Nature lovers continue to mourn the death of conservationist Patrick Kilonzo, famously known as the “Waterman of Tsavo,” who died on Tuesday. According to a statement by his family, Kilonzo passed on while receiving treatment on Tuesday.
“We the family of Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua would like to take this opportunity to announce his passing on after a long battle with kidney failure. We wish to take this opportunity to welcome any form of support to give him a befitting send-off and also continue with the good work of conservation,” read part of the statement by the family spokesperson Jones Chengo.
Mr. Kilonzo became a global internet sensation after his inspirational story in which he delivered water to wild animals in the expansive Tsavo National Park. Using his private water bowser, he had created various watering points where the animals came to quench their thirst.
In 2016, he started supplying clean drinking water to wild animals after the rains failed for close to two years and some of the animals were on the verge of death. His effort won admiration from the public and fellow conservationists over his resilience and passion to save the ecosystem, hence acquiring the name “Waterman.”
What many Kenyans don’t know is that he was silently battling a kidney condition, which saw him in and out of hospitals both in Kenya and outside since 2015.
In 2019, Kilonzo received a Head of State Commendation award from Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta for his act.
One of his last projects was a sunflower plantation, as a way of reducing human-wildlife conflicts mainly with communities living around parks. In his words, “The reason I started this project is because most farmers have problems with elephants invading and eating all the maize they plant. I did my research and found that elephants do not eat sunflower and instead farmers can sell and buy any food they need.”
He had planted sunflower on a 20-acre piece of land.
