It started, like most incidents, with a phone call. Our radio room operators hear all kinds of stories, but this is one they had to check twice...

It has taken some time to process Daniel Ole Sambu’s sudden passing last week, and it will take much longer to come to terms with the personal loss and repercussions of the void that he leaves behind. Yesterday was his funeral, and we had a chance to say goodbye and share in our grief.

My heart goes out to Daniel’s family, a wife now without a husband and children without their guiding father. They will be supported by the community and by Big Life, where Daniel invested so much of his life. That is without question.

Daniel appeared, almost preordained, just as Big Life was starting to realize that human wildlife conflict was fast becoming the battle of our times.  He stepped into his role as a bridge and ambassador between the community and the ecosystem’s predators, seeking ways to mitigate losses on both sides. For over twenty years, he played his role as a master strategist, understanding both sides of the equation as a land and livestock owner himself, yet sympathetic to the wildlife that shares the landscape.

Daniel played a key role in the negotiations that led to the creation of the compensation program in the Amboseli ecosystem, the success of which has brought lions and other predators back from the brink of local extinction. 

Lions have rebounded from probably less than 25 to more than 250 over the past 23 years. That is truly a legacy to be proud of, and without Daniel I doubt there would be lions roaring in the shadows of Mount Kilimanjaro today.

He was naturally charismatic and played by his own rules, sometimes conventional, sometimes not.  His gifts and insights did not go unnoticed. At the national level, he was constantly called in as an advisor on national policy, particularly regarding human-wildlife conflict mitigation. He left his mark there as well.

I will miss this man, a conservation hero, who always had a sense of humor bubbling just beneath his distinguished and elegant demeanor, eyes with a sparkle and chuckle never far away.

Richard Bonham
Executive Chairman
Big Life Foundation Kenya

Does Manchester, Madrid, or Barcelona mean anything to you?

Say these words to anyone you meet in Maasailand (or in Kenya!) and they will reply excitably with names like Rooney, Ronaldo, or Messi and provide detailed opinions on who is the G.O.A.T.

Dear Big Life Family,

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the devastating news of the passing of our beloved colleague, brother, father, and community leader, Daniel Ole Sambu, the Predator Compensation Fund (PCF) Program Coordinator.  

For the past one and a half months, Daniel fought bravely at Coptic Hospital, and we all held onto hope as his health showed signs of improvement. Yesterday, however, complications arose suddenly, and by evening, we received the heartbreaking announcement that Ole Sambu had left us.  

We all know who Daniel was—more than a loyal employee, more than a public figure. He was a pillar of Big Life Foundation and a beacon of dedication to the community. His tireless work in protecting wildlife and supporting families touched countless lives. His absence leaves a void that words cannot fill, not only within our Big Life family but across the entire community that depended on his wisdom, compassion, and unwavering commitment.  

As we mourn this immense loss, let us also celebrate the legacy Ole Sambu leaves behind: a legacy of service, resilience, and love for both people and nature. His spirit will continue to guide us, and may his memory inspire us to carry forward the mission he held so dearly.  

We stand together in grief, and we stand together in strength. Let us hold his family in our prayers and surround them with the same love and support Ole Sambu always gave to others. 

I echo Richard Bonham, who says, “I cannot imagine Big Life without Daniel, he has always been a pillar and responsible to help make Big Life what it is today, I will miss his advice and leadership, but most of all his face that always seemed to be smiling.”

Rest in peace, Ole Sambu. Your light will forever shine in our hearts.

With deepest sympathy,

Dr. Benson N. Leyian
Chief Executive Officer
BIG LIFE FOUNDATION KENYA