A herd of elephants from Rimoi National game reserve invaded three villages along Kerio Valley destroying mangoes, maize, banana, millet – and scaring school children.
Enraged residents of the affected villages, namely Sangach, Tot and Kowow have asked the Iten based Kenya Wildlife Service personnel to drive the jumbos back to their sanctuary or they take the law into their own hands.
Speaking to Mwanahabari.co.ke in Kapsowar town, the residents through their spokespersons Michael Kewowu and Richard Chepting claimed that the jumbos have become a threat to their lives and property.
They accused the KWS rangers of inaction even over 200 elephants strayed from their sanctuary.
Kewowu said the elephants have caused destruction on their main cash crops running into millions of shillings adding that they were planning to lodge a complaint with the KWS with a view of seeking compensation.
“We do not know where to start now that our crops have been destroyed by the elephants which are also terrorizing school going children,” said Kewawu.
Farms into grazing fields
He claimed the jumbos have converted their farms into grazing fields for the last one week forcing some families neighbouring the game reserve to seek refuge along the escarpment.
The region, which is the leading producer of mango fruits in Rift Valley has also been rocked by frequent deadly incidents of cattle rustling and banditry which has resulted in loss of lives and property in the recent past.
Chepting said the local residents are staring at major food insecurity if the concerned authority will not move with speed and tame the jumbos from straying into their farms and causing massive destruction of their crops.
He said a section of the farmers have started to arm themselves with bows and arrows to repulse the jumbos which he claimed have taken the three villages which overlook the game reserve hostage.
“We are experiencing an increase in cases of human-wildlife conflicts along Kerio Valley and if the concerned authority will not address the situation, we shall have no option but to take the law into our hands by spearing the elephants to death,” warned Chepting.
An isolated case?
A senior KWS warden officer who confirmed the incident, warned the residents against taking the law into their hands terming their action as illegal.
The officer who sought anonymity said that they have deployed a team of game rangers to the affected villages to address the jumbo menace noting that the invasion incident was just an isolated case.
“There should be no cause for alarm as we have already taken care of the situation in the affected areas where the elephants are reported
to have invaded people’s farms,” he said.