AMBOSELI ELEPHANT DEATHS SPARK NATIONAL CONCERN OVER KENYA'S PESTICIDE SAFETY.
BY NJOKI KARANJA Nairobi, Kenya – August 3, 2026. The deaths of at least 15 elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem have triggered renewed calls for urgent reforms in Kenya's pesticide regulation, with conservation group WildlifeDirect warning that the incident exposes serious weaknesses in the country's chemical safety and regulatory systems. According to preliminary investigations by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the elephants died after consuming crops contaminated with cyanide-linked pesticides from tomato farms bordering Amboseli National Park, Kimana Sanctuary, and Kuku Ranch. KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga confirmed that laboratory tests detected cyanide traces in the animals' digestive systems. Most of the elephants, including breeding females and calves, reportedly suffered partial paralysis before dying within two days. WildlifeDirect CEO Dr. Paula Kahumbu described the incident as more than a wildlife tragedy, saying it raises urgent questi...