By Betty Luke
A 42-year-old man is fighting for his life at a private hospital in Isiolo after he was attacked by a crocodile while crossing a swollen stream in Bulesa, Merti Sub-County.
Mr Kala Halakano was on his way to Garbatulla when he was attacked, sustaining serious injuries on the hands and legs during the Thursday morning incident.
His brother Salad Halkano told The Press Point that the patient was rescued by well wishers who rushed him to a health center in Merti town before he was later ferried to Isiolo town for specialized treatment.
“He was first attacked on the legs and while trying to escape, he broke one of the hand. The crocodile then mauled his hands,” said Mr Salad.
While calling for compensation from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the family has appealed to well wishers to chip in and help settle the hospital bill that has risen to over Sh300,000.
“We are relying on well wishers to help us because this is a huge burden that we never anticipated. KWS should come in and help us clear the bill,” he said.
The incident comes amid rising incidents of human wildlife conflict in the region. In February, a couple sustained serious injuries following a lion attack at Elsa Ntirim.
The two are said to have been fetching firewood during the incident that left them nursing wounds on the legs, hands and chest.
A 14-year-old boy was in the same month trampled to death by an elephant at Milima Tale in Oldonyiro ward while herding his family’s livestock.
This comes as President William Ruto last week launched a compensation program for victims of wildlife attacks, announcing that the government was set to erect electric fences and use modern surveillance technology to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
The head of state revealed that the government would spend Sh7 billion for compensation to those who were attacked between 2014-2023.
