Lead image for Kajiado County disputes KWS elephant death toll, declares Amboseli a One Health emergency.
The County Government of Kajiado has challenged the Kenya Wildlife Service's account of the recent elephant deaths in the Amboseli ecosystem, disputing the number of animals that died between June 24 and July 24, 2026, and calling for an independent investigation into the incident.
In a statement, the county, through its Department of Tourism and Wildlife, 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.
On July 29, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) broke its silence, revealing that the 15 animals — female adults, their calves and a single male elephant — had died from cyanide poisoning, pointing to agricultural chemicals as the likely cause of the deaths.
Speaking to Nation's Fixing the Nation during World Ranger Day at Tsavo West National Park on Friday, July 31, KWS Director-General Erustus Kanga said preliminary laboratory analysis of samples collected from the carcasses detected traces of cyanide in their digestive systems.
Prof Kanga said that, according to the post-mortem examination report by KWS veterinarians, the animals had ingested pesticides sprayed on nearby tomato farms within Amboseli National Park, Kimana Sanctuary and the Kuku Group Ranch area, where the deaths occurred.
However, after days of silence following the alarm over the elephant deaths, the County Government of Kajiado has come out strongly to challenge KWS's account.
The county argues that the incident extends far beyond the loss of wildlife. It represents a serious concern with potential implications for public health, livestock, biodiversity, tourism, food security, water resources, rural livelihoods and the ecological balance that sustains communities and wildlife across the Amboseli ecosystem. It also suggests the death toll could be higher.
"While fifteen elephant deaths have been confirmed, the possibility remains that the full extent of the mortality may yet be established. We must therefore act with urgency, responsibility and unity as investigations continue to determine the circumstances and underlying cause of this tragedy," read part of the statement signed by Tourism and Wildlife CECM Jeremiah Ole Ncharo.