Furore as elephants ruin crops in Kerio Valley

FARMERS at the Kerio Valley have protested destruction of their crops by elephants from the Rimoi Game Reserve. They are now urging the Kenya Wildlife Service to speed up the erecting of an electric fence around the game reserve to end the frequent human and wildlife conflict, which they attributed to under- development in the region. According to Mango farmer Francis Kiplagat, KWS is taking their security concern lightly despite several reminders.

Speaking to the press at Cheptebo village, Kiplagat said: Our magoes, cotton, maize and Bananas have been destroyed by the elephants. This is a great loss to us and we urge KWS to immediately do something about it. "The KWS officers at Iten town should come and stop their animals from straying into our farms and destroying our crops which are our main source of income.’’

The KWS warden in charge of Elgeyo Marakwet county, Dominic Kilonzo, appealed for calm, saying the matter is being addressed. He took issue with KWS why it was taking too long to erect a multi-million shillings fence around the facility as promised more than three years ago instead of keeping them in suspense. “KWS officers based in Iten town should come and tame their animals from straying into our farms and destroying our crops which is our main source of income .’’ he said The KWS warden in charge of Elgeyo Marakwet county, Dominic Kilonzo, appealed for calm, saying the matter is being addressed. He assured the farmers that in the meantime the game warden will be carrying out patrols at all times to ensure that non of their crops is destroyed by jumbos.