A three-day intensive multi-agency operation in the Amboseli ecosystem has led to the arrest of four farmers, three men and a woman, suspected of involvement in the poisoning of elephants between June 24 and July 26 in Kajiado County, as the death toll rises to 18.
A range of toxic substances suspected to have been smuggled into the country from a neighbouring country has also been seized as investigators intensify efforts to solve the animals' mass death paradox.
The operation, which concluded on Friday, was conducted by a team comprising Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers and National Intelligence Service (NIS) personnel.
It followed extensive field investigations, laboratory analysis and environmental sampling aimed at establishing the cause of the elephant deaths and identifying those responsible.
At least 10 of the initial 16 elephants exhibited similar clinical signs, including partial paralysis that left them unable to stand before dying within one to two days.
The remaining five carcasses, according to KWS's earlier report, were too decomposed or had been scavenged, making it impossible to establish the cause of death.
The condition primarily affected adult females and their calves, with only one adult male. The adult’s animal’s tusks were reported intact at the time of death and were removed and kept in a KWS strong room.
Two more elephants that were under treatment succumbed last week. An additional elephant has been reported critically ill but remains under KWS veterinary surveillance and treatment.
Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano, through a statement on Saturday, said preliminary laboratory results pointed to the probable involvement of a toxic substance, with earlier indications suggesting cyanide poisoning arising from the ingestion of pesticide-contaminated tomatoes sourced from farms adjacent to wildlife habitats.
Cyanide is a fast-acting and extremely powerful chemical poison consisting of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. While cyanide is not a registered or legal active ingredient in modern commercial tomato pesticides, illegal or off-label use of lethal poisons on crops can occur in areas affected by human-wildlife conflict.
However, CS Miano said the findings remained subject to further scientific verification before the investigation is deemed complete, adding that the suspects, who have been termed persons of interest, would be arraigned to face due legal process.
" A search conducted in Tikondo, Kimana, within Loitoktok Sub-County led to the recovery of assorted substances, including chemicals believed to have been sourced from a neighbouring country.
"These potentially toxic and unlabelled materials have been secured for further scientific analysis.
"The Government will allow the investigative and judicial processes to proceed to their lawful conclusion, and any person established to have unlawfully killed, poisoned or harmed wildlife will be prosecuted in accordance with the law," CS Miano said.
On Thursday, a detective privy to the investigation told Nation that the officers were engaged as casual labourers on the farms while conducting the operation incognito.
One farmer of Tanzanian origin, who is suspected of being the mastermind, was arrested in Nairobi on Thursday night, while the second suspect was arrested in Kajiado County. Two more suspects were arrested on Friday. Three suspects are above 50 years old while the fourth one is in his early 20s.
"It's now clear the animals drank water laced with cyanide, strategically placed where animals could not miss the water jar. We suspect the cyanide could have been smuggled into the country from the neighboring country," said the source, who spoke in confidence as he is not authorized to speak to the media. "We have also established that the culprit had planned to kill more animals, but we are yet to know the motive."
The Amboseli ecosystem is home to dozens of private wildlife sanctuaries and is surrounded by large-scale horticultural farms, some of which border animal migration corridors. Some of the farms are embroiled in protracted court battles with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) after the environmental watchdog withdrew their Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licenses.
CS Miano said the mass death of elephants in Amboseli was not solely a matter concerning elephants but a national wildlife conservation and security concern. She reiterated the Government's commitment to strengthening intelligence-led protection, surveillance, scientific investigation, law enforcement and rapid response in vulnerable areas.
"Inter-agency coordination, intelligence sharing and joint operations will be improved to ensure that threats are detected early, investigated professionally and contained without delay, while scientific evidence continues to guide management decisions. Wildlife conservation cannot be confined within the boundaries of protected areas, because wild animals move freely across community, private and agricultural landscapes. Collaboration among Government agencies, communities, landowners, conservancies and other stakeholders is therefore indispensable," added CS Miano.
Over the years, Amboseli National Park in Kajiado County, which spans 392 square kilometers, has remained one of the country's premier tourist destinations. It derives its name from the Maasai word Empusel, meaning "salty, dusty place" in the Maa language.
Amboseli National Park hosts a significant elephant population, with estimates often cited around 2,000, forming one of Africa's most studied and densely populated elephant habitats, known for its iconic large-tusked elephants (super tuskers) and long-term research by organizations.
The park remains a major economic artery, boasting an average annual collection between Sh1.5 billion to Sh 3 billion in gross tourism and gate fee revenue. At least 80 per cent of the wildlife lives outside the park.
Meanwhile, the Kajiado County Government, through the Department of Tourism and Wildlife, has declared the incident a One Health emergency, warning that its implications extend beyond wildlife conservation to public health, livestock, biodiversity, food security, water resources and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the Amboseli ecosystem.
