By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 7 January 2026 - Residents of Ongata Rongai and surrounding areas were placed on high alert on Wednesday after two lionesses strayed out of Nairobi National Park and were spotted near Sholinke Trading Centre in Kajiado County.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed that the big cats were last seen about 8.3 kilometres from the park boundary, an area that lies less than 10 kilometres from the heart of Ongata Rongai. According to the agency, the most recent coordinates where the lionesses were sighted were 37 M 261961 UTM 9834651.
In a statement issued on January 7, KWS said teams of rangers had already been deployed to the area, with veterinary officers on their way to safely capture and return the animals to the park.
“Two lionesses from Nairobi National Park have been sighted in the Sholinke Trading Area, approximately 8.3 km from the park boundary. KWS teams are actively managing the situation,” the agency said.
KWS emphasised that public safety remains its top priority, noting that the operation to track and relocate the animals was ongoing.
“KWS rangers are on site and veterinary teams are en route to safely dart, capture, and relocate the lionesses,” the statement added.
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Residents living near Sholinke and neighbouring estates were urged to remain calm but cautious. The wildlife agency advised members of the public to avoid the area, keep children indoors and immediately report any sightings through official channels.
“Members of the public are urged to remain calm, avoid the area, keep children indoors, and report any sightings via Toll Free 0800 597 000 or WhatsApp 0726 610 509,” KWS said.
The latest incident adds to a growing list of human–wildlife encounters around Nairobi and its outskirts, particularly in Rongai, which borders wildlife corridors linked to Nairobi National Park. In recent years, residents have reported sightings of lions and hyenas wandering into residential areas, often sparking fear and debate over urban expansion into wildlife habitats.
In March 2025, CCTV footage of a lioness roaming a residential neighbourhood in Rongai circulated widely online, showing the animal climbing a perimeter wall before disappearing. Earlier that same year, KWS teams captured another lioness spotted near homes in the area, which rangers later suggested could have been related to other lions rescued after escaping their natural habitat in 2024.
As operations continue in Sholinke, KWS has reassured the public that measures are in place to prevent harm and called for cooperation from residents as officers work to return the lionesses safely to the park.
