Four men are nursing serious injuries after a stray leopard attacked them on Monday evening in Kalapochoni Village, along the River Kaipon, in Poole Sub-Location, Riwo Ward, West Pokot County.
The victims — all sand harvesters — were going about their work when the wild animal emerged from nearby thickets and pounced on them without warning.
The injured were rushed to Kacheliba Level 4 Hospital by residents who responded to their cries for help.
According to a police report, the victims have been identified as Philip Poghisho, 24, a person with a disability (PWD), who suffered a fractured left arm, head injuries, and visible facial cuts; Davy Lotodo, 25, who sustained deep cuts on his right hand, underarm, and scratch wounds on his back; Dennis Todonyang, 19, who sustained deep bite wounds on his right hand; and Ngolenya Chimtarani, 26, who suffered deep bite injuries on his buttocks.
Medical staff at Kacheliba Hospital confirmed that three of the victims were treated and discharged for home care, while one remains under close observation but is in stable condition.
Speaking on the incident, West Pokot Deputy County Commissioner Wycliffe Munanda condemned the attack and called for immediate intervention by relevant authorities.
“This is a very unfortunate incident. The leopard is believed to have strayed from nearby hills. We are working closely with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to track and capture the animal before it harms anyone else,” said Mr. Munanda.
He added, “The safety of our people is paramount. We urge residents to remain alert and report any wildlife sightings. We have already deployed a team from KWS to the area.”
Residents have expressed fear and frustration over the increasing cases of human-wildlife conflict in the region.
“We live in fear. That leopard could have killed someone. It is not the first time such animals have entered our village,” said local resident John Locham.
By Tuesday morning, a KWS response team had been dispatched to Kalapochoni Village to investigate and begin efforts to track the leopard.
Authorities have promised to intensify patrols and implement measures to prevent future attacks.
