The family of Dismas Kogo, on Friday, January 17, revealed the final moments they shared with him before he died by suicide on January 1, 2025. While speaking to the media, Kogo’s mother recounted that her son had taken his life due to the failure of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to compensate him after a wildlife-related injury. She shared that he had called her to say goodbye.
“He told me, ‘Mum, I’m calling to say goodbye. We will never see each other again, and this is my last voice,’” Kogo’s mother recounted.
The family revealed that Kogo had received a letter from KWS indicating he had been compensated.
However, upon verifying the information with the bank, he discovered no payment had been made.
Family reveals Kogo committed suicide due to failure by KWS to compensate him
This realization left him frustrated, pushing him into severe depression, which eventually led to his tragic death.
“When I was following up on his compensation, no one within KWS seemed concerned.
They later wrote a letter claiming they had paid him. I went to the KWS office in Ngong and spoke to the AP commander, who called the Equity Bank manager. The manager confirmed that no transaction had been made to Kogo’s account by KWS,” narrated Kogo’s uncle, David Kipruto, while in tears.
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The family is now urging the government to intervene and ensure KWS compensates them.
“I am pleading with you, President William Ruto, you are in a position to direct KWS to compensate Kogo,” said Peter Maina, Kogo’s brother.
According to neighbors and friends, Dismas’s body was found hanging in his home in Kajiado County. The DCI confirmed that Kogo died by suicide after hanging himself with a rope.
Kogo’s rift with the Wildlife Service
Kogo’s struggle with KWS gained public attention after his story aired in the media on December 15, 2024. In the interview, he was seeking compensation after being attacked by a hyena five years earlier while working as a security guard.
As a result of the attack, he lost a finger and sustained severe leg injuries, which led him to apply for compensation from KWS.
There have been several reports of KWS failing to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflicts.
Also Read: KWS Issues Five Tips to Avoid Hippo Attacks
For instance, around June 2024, victims of such conflicts reported significant delays in receiving compensation, despite claims amounting to Ksh900 million.
Residents expressed frustration over the slow process, especially after incidents involving elephants damaging crops and posing threats to human life.
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