The United Green Movement (UGM) Party has called for urgent investigations and tougher enforcement of environmental regulations following the deaths of 15 elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem, which preliminary findings indicate may have been caused by cyanide poisoning.
In a statement on Friday, the party cited preliminary laboratory findings by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which reportedly detected traces of cyanide in samples collected from the elephants that died over the past month.
According to the UGM Party, the dead animals comprised one adult male elephant, nine female elephants and their calves. Preliminary investigations are said to point to the ingestion of cyanide-contaminated tomatoes, possibly linked to the use of highly toxic agricultural pesticides on nearby farms.
The party also noted that cyanide has previously been associated with unregulated artisanal mining activities in parts of Kenya, urging investigators to consider all possible sources of contamination.
"The UGM Party is gravely concerned by preliminary laboratory findings from the Kenya Wildlife Service that traces of cyanide were detected in samples taken from fifteen dead elephants," the statement said.
It added that investigators should not overlook any plausible explanations for the contamination. "Investigations point to ingestion of cyanide-contaminated tomatoes occasioned by use of strong agricultural pesticides from nearby farms. Cyanide has separately been linked to unregulated artisanal mining across Kenya. The UGM Party considers these plausible lines of enquiry that investigators must not overlook," the statement read.
The party described the incident as more than a wildlife conservation issue, arguing that it reflects broader failures in environmental governance and enforcement.
"This tragedy is not an isolated wildlife incident. It is a direct, urgent warning about the collapse of environmental compliance and enforcement in Kenya," the statement said.
The UGM Party further claimed that hazardous chemicals have increasingly found their way into food and water systems, posing risks not only to wildlife but also to surrounding communities.
The party criticised the government for what it described as inadequate implementation of constitutional provisions guaranteeing the right to a clean and healthy environment, safe water and adequate food.
"It is rather ironic that as President Ruto waxes lyrical over a new national development charter post Vision 2030, Article 43 on socio-economic rights and Article 42 on a clean and healthy environment lie largely unimplemented," the statement said.
The party also renewed its opposition to the continued use of what it described as 202 highly hazardous pesticides that remain permitted or restricted for use in Kenya despite being banned in several other jurisdictions.
It claimed that chemicals such as glyphosate, paraquat and chlorpyrifos continue to pose risks to human health, wildlife and ecosystems, while also contributing to the rejection of some Kenyan agricultural exports in international markets.
The UGM Party urged the government to impose a total ban on the pesticides and transition towards environmentally friendly agricultural practices.
Among its demands, the party called for comprehensive environmental investigations to determine whether a common contamination source, including local water bodies, may have contributed to the elephant deaths.
It also urged the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) and county governments within the Amboseli ecosystem to swiftly establish the source and extent of the contamination.
Other recommendations included stricter enforcement of pesticide regulations, an independent audit of pesticide and toxic chemical supply chains, immediate testing of nearby produce, water sources and livestock, public health advisories for affected communities and accountability for individuals or organisations found to have violated environmental laws.
The party further called for increased investment in farmer education on safer agricultural alternatives and regular public reporting by KWS, NEMA and the PCPB on environmental contamination incidents and enforcement actions.
"Kenya's wildlife is not collateral damage, and our people are not expendable. This must be the moment enforcement becomes real, transparent and equal for all," the statement said.
The UGM Party said it stands in solidarity with communities in Kajiado County and pledged that, if elected to government, it would promote agro-ecological farming systems and strengthen enforcement of constitutional environmental protections