Stray elephants destroy crops in Taita Taveta

ELEPHANTS have invaded villages in Taveta constituency and destroyed several acres of crops. One person was attacked and seriously injured by an elephant at Kidong area. He is admitted at Taveta District hospital. Chala Njukini ward councillor Nehemiah Mutua said the elephants are a threat to residents.

The civic leader said the more than 40 elephants have invaded local farms and are causing extreme damage. "Our hopes of harvesting this month have come to a tragic end following the destruction by elephants. We call on the government to intervene and provide relief food to starving people in the affected areas," Mutua said.

He said the locals have been having a hard time trying to drive away the elephants. "The KWS has failed to protect us from persistent jumbo invasions. They have not even consulted me on where the problem is," Mutua said. KWS senior warden in charge of Taita, Samuel Rukaria said the elephants are migrating from Tanzania to Kenya. Rukaria confirmed that one person was attacked by an elephant and is admitted at the Taveta District Hospital.

He blamed the persistent wildlife-human conflict on herders who have vandalisd the electric fence. "The Jipe-Old Rhombo electric fence being constructed by KWS at a tune of more than Sh90 million is near completion but the main challenge is vandalism by herders," he said. Rukaria said KWS rangers are currently undertaking an operation to flush out the herders from the park.