Lion Kills 14-Year-Old Girl Near Nairobi Home

A 14-year-old girl was killed by a lion on Sunday evening after the animal entered a residential compound on the outskirts of Nairobi and dragged her away.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed the teenager was mauled in the Savannah Ranch area, near Nairobi National Park. Another teenager witnessed the attack and quickly raised the alarm.

Rangers tracked the lion’s footprints to the nearby Mbagathi River, where they discovered the girl’s body. Officials said the body had injuries on the lower back. A post-mortem will not be conducted.

KWS has launched a search operation and set traps to capture the lion.
“We have deployed teams and set a trap to locate the animal,” KWS said in a statement. “Security measures are being reinforced to avoid further incidents.”

The victim was a student at a nearby primary school.

Nairobi National Park, which lies just 10km from the city center, is home to a range of wildlife including lions, leopards, buffaloes, and giraffes. While the park is fenced on three sides, it remains open to the south to allow wildlife migration—raising ongoing concerns about human-wildlife conflict.

The agency noted that more than 143 kilometers of electrified fencing was added last year to reduce such conflicts, but some areas remain vulnerable.

In a separate incident over the weekend, a 54-year-old man was killed by an elephant while it grazed in Mere Forest, Nyeri County, about 130km north of Nairobi. The man suffered severe chest trauma, broken ribs, and internal injuries.

Wildlife sightings in residential neighborhoods are becoming increasingly common. In recent years, CCTV footage captured lions snatching pets or wandering near homes. Conservationists and local leaders continue to urge the government to enhance fencing, introduce early warning systems, and educate communities on how to stay safe.