A 14-year-old boy has died after he was attacked by a hippopotamus while fishing at Mikimba Lake in Karimboni, Magarini Constituency.
According to Joshua Leintoi, the tragic incident occurred at around 8:00 a.m. on Sunday as the teenager was fishing at the lake.
Following the incident, Leintoi urged residents living near rivers, lakes and other water bodies to remain vigilant and exercise caution while carrying out daily activities in areas inhabited by wild animals.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over the increasing cases of human-wildlife conflict in the region.
Reacting to the incident, Magarini political activist Hamadi Chadi Karisa called on the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to work closely with communities living near rivers and lakes to develop lasting solutions to recurring wildlife attacks.
The boy’s body was moved to the mortuary at Malindi County Referral Hospital as the family begins funeral preparations.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing human activity with wildlife conservation in areas where communities live in close proximity to animals such as hippos, which are among Africa’s most dangerous wild mammals.
