• He was fishing when the hostile mother-hippo chased, attacked and killed him.
• Residents urged to be watchful around the lake to avoid attacks by dangerous animals.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
Human-wildlife conflict is increasing around flooded Lake Baringo after yet another person was chased and killed by a threatened mother hippo on Saturday.
Reuben Chelimo, 65 was fishing at the shallow lakeshore at around 1pm when the furious mother-hippo jumped out of the water, chased and attacked him.
“The man threw a stone to scare away the animal, then went ahead to cast his net to fish. But he didn't realise the hippo's calf was standing near him," resident Dennis Kiptoo said on Sunday.
Upon seeing her calf near the fisherman, the mother hippo returned, pursued the man, grabbed him in her jaws and killed him instantly.
“We could only watch helplessly as the hippo killed the man because it wildly chased people around and we feared it could have killed more people if confronted,” Kiptoo said.
Image: JOSEPH KANGOGO
Baringo North police commander Fredrick Odinga said the hippo killed the old man on the spot.
“We are yet to ascertained what may have triggered the animal to turn hostile and what the victim was doing before he was attacked,” Odinga said.
The body of the deceased man was taken to Baringo Referral Hospital mortuary in Kabarnet.
Hippos and crocodiles have multiplied since water levels rose due to heavy rains since last year in July.
“Due to their vast growing population, the killer animals are now living around the shores, closer to people’s residences and beaches, endangering people’s lives,” tour guide Louise Juma said.
An increasing number of people has been injured.
The last hippo killing in Lake Baringo occurred three years ago when an 11-year-old boy, Fabregas Kemboi, of Kapsoi Primary school near the lake was attacked by a rogue hippo in February 2019.
He had accompanied his friends to fetch water when a hippo suddenly jumped out, bit off his hand and pulled the rest of his body deep into the lake.
After a three-week search, only his hand was found floating near the shore. It was buried by his parents.
“We had no option but bury my son’s hand,” the father David Kiplagat said.
Kemboi's grandfather, Charles Chelagat, was also killed by a hippo in 1993.
A number of crocodile and hippo attacks were reported since the lake broke its banks mid last year. Residents are warned against living or operating businesses near the lake.
“The animals are wild and dangerous. They they can easily kill so people should avoid going closer to them to prevent deaths," lake warden Jackson Komen said.
The residents want the Kenya Wildlife Service to instal a post at Kampi ya Samaki and organise continual security patrols around the lake.
They called upon the government to compensate the families of the victims and the injured victims themselves.
KWS Baringo warden David Cheruiyot condoled with the families and called on residents to report invading animals before they attack and kill someone.
“We also encourage people to report incidents to our offices as soon as they happen to help us fast-tract investigations before compensation of valid cases," Cheruiyot said.