• Area chief Phillip Ariri said a man was last week attacked by one of the buffaloes and seriously injured.
Residents of Kihoto estate in Naivasha have hit out at KWS for laxity following the killing of a man by a buffalo near Lake Naivasha.
The attack happened a day after the residents raised a complaint with the agency over a herd of buffaloes that had invaded the area.
The father of two who was on his way home when the lone buffalo charged at him near the shores of the lake. His friends fled.
Irate residents threatened to lynch KWS officers who arrived at the scene minutes later. They said the agency failed to act despite their complaints.
The officers shot dead three buffaloes and carting away the carcasses, further infuriating the villagers who wanted a share of the meat.
John Kimani said the buffaloes were first spotted in the estate two weeks ago and KWS officers promptly informed.
He said the officers promised to act but did not happen until the fisherman was attacked and killed. “If KWS had acted on time, the life of this man would have been saved,” Kimani said.
Area chief Phillip Ariri said a man was last week attacked by one of the buffaloes and seriously injured.
He said cases of human-wildlife conflict around the lake had risen in the last two months due to the ongoing drought and closure of wildlife corridors.
“KWS officers have moved in and killed the three buffaloes but this was too late to save the life of the man,” Ariri said.
Meanwhile, farmers living around Hells Gate and Mt. Longonot national parks in Naivasha have expressed concern over an increase in roaming wildlife around their homes.
James Kimani said tens of buffaloes, zebras, and giraffes have invaded their farms, destroyed crops and water pans. He said that efforts to get assistance from KWS had failed even after some buffaloes attacked and injured residents.
“Our water pans have dried up due to the invasion of wild animals and in the last one month two people have been attacked and left for the dead by the buffaloes,” Kimani said.