The deaths of at least 15 elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem have sparked renewed scrutiny of Kenya’s pesticide regulatory regime, with conservation group WildlifeDirect calling for an independent investigation and sweeping reforms to protect wildlife, farmers and the public.
The organisation says preliminary findings linking the deaths to cyanide-contaminated crops point to deeper failures in pesticide regulation and enforcement, warning that the incident raises concerns about food safety and public health.
Investigations by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) indicate the elephants died after feeding on crops contaminated with cyanide associated with pesticides used on tomato farms neighbouring Amboseli National Park, Kimana Sanctuary and Kuku Ranch.
KWS Director-General Prof. Erustus Kanga said laboratory tests detected cyanide traces in samples collected from the elephants’ digestive systems. Ten of the animals reportedly developed partial paralysis before dying within two days. Most of those killed were adult females and calves, a loss conservationists say could affect the long-term viability of the population.
WildlifeDirect Chief Executive Dr Paula Kahumbu said the incident should be treated as a national crisis rather than an isolated wildlife tragedy.
“The reported deaths of at least 15 elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem are not simply a wildlife tragedy. They are a warning that Kenya’s pesticide governance, regulatory oversight and enforcement systems require urgent reform,” she said.
She questioned whether chemicals capable of killing elephants after contaminating crops could also be exposing farmers, agricultural workers and consumers to harmful health risks.
The deaths come barely seven months after six lions and 32 vultures were poisoned in the Amboseli ecosystem, a pattern WildlifeDirect says points to systemic weaknesses in the management and oversight of hazardous chemicals.
The organisation also cited a recent Auditor-General’s performance audit, which found the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) had failed to adequately monitor compliance with pesticide regulations.
“Their deaths should prompt a national conversation about how hazardous chemicals are regulated, monitored and enforced in Kenya. Protecting wildlife, protecting farmers and protecting public health are one and the same.” ~ Dr. Paula Kahumbu
According to the audit, authorities seized 28,617 kilogrammes of expired, counterfeit and unregistered pesticides during the 2024/25 financial year. The report also flagged weak post-registration surveillance, outdated records of pesticide dealers and inadequate assessment of long-term environmental impacts.
WildlifeDirect said many farmers depend on advice from agrochemical retailers, often without access to independent information on the health and environmental effects of the products they use.
The conservation group wants the government to establish an independent investigation involving KWS, the Pest Control Products Board, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the ministries responsible for agriculture, health and water, county governments and independent scientists, with the findings made public.
It also called for stricter enforcement against the illegal importation, sale and misuse of hazardous pesticides, a nationwide review of pesticide registration and distribution, routine residue testing, greater transparency on pesticide use and stronger support for farmers to adopt safer pest control methods.
“The Amboseli elephants may have revealed a much larger problem,” Dr Kahumbu said.
