• KWS officials in Malindi say they were not aware of the problem.
• Elephant waste is all over the farms—evidence of invasion.
More than 10,000 residents of Chakama area in Magarini constituency Kilifi county are protesting against the massive destruction of crops by elephants and hippos in their farms.
More than 10,000 residents of Chakama in Magarini, Kilifi, have protested against the destruction of crops by elephants and hippos.
The wandering animals have been on the rampage since February, causing massive losses amounting to millions of shillings.
Residents claim the Kenya Wildlife Service ignores their cries. The crops include cassava, maize, bananas and coconut trees. Elephant waste is all over the farms. It is evidence of invasion.
The victims irrigate their farms using the pumps, generators and pipes they got from President Uhuru Kenyatta as part of his war on famine and overreliance on relief food. They use water from the Galana River.
They now face hunger due to the destruction. The elephants reportedly move in herds of between five and 20 and are more notorious for destruction than the hippos, which only destroy crops on farms near the river.
Some residents have had to harvest their crops early, leading to low returns, or spend the night guarding their farms, a risky move. When they spot the elephants, they light bonfires and beat drums or iron sheets to scare them away.
They said the animals invade their farms daily but whenever they call the KWS, only those from Tsavo in Taita Taveta come briefly and remain in Shakahola trading centre before going back without taking any action. Those from Malindi complain that their vehicles are grounded, they said.
Samson Zia, who owns a three-acre farm, said they came together to help each other as the situation is worsening. Areas affected include Bakaye, Mchekenzi, Ruruma, Katana Hekeye, Kwa Mwanza, Bombi, Garisemke, Divayo, Habura, Hawewanje, Kibora, Kanduru, Adimaye, Katama, Bofu, Shakahola and Majengo.
Zia claimed the response of Malindi KWS has been very poor since the problem started because whenever they call, the officers claim their vehicles have no fuel or are being used in other areas to deal with the hippo menace.
“We are forced to call Taita Taveta KWS who are in Sala Gate, Taita Taveta county. When they come, they just sit at the dispensary and do not do anything to stop the invasions,” he said.
He said KWS officers are quick to arrest people found with dik-diks or respond to death due to elephant attacks but never come to end the destruction of crops. He appealed to Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala to visit the ground, see the destruction and offer solutions.
Contacted for comment, the KWS Malindi marine national park and reserve deputy warden, who identified himself as Munene, said he was not aware of the matter and immediately ended the call.
Zia regretted that some children have dropped out of school and those who go report at 10am for fear of attacks.
Mwambegu Karisa Kahindi from Chakama thanked the President for giving them 250 water pumps, pipes and fuel but added that the good move is being ruined by the animals.
“We are urging President Kenyatta to intervene as the elephants are destroying farms after he helped us with irrigation equipment. We have reports that Balala is being misled by KWS officials and maintains that there are no elephants,” he said.
Benson Charo from Shakahola said they are suffering because the elephants have been invading their farms daily. He said they have always reported to KWS officers but they don't visit their farms to witness the losses suffered.
“We have decided to sleep on our farms to guard them against the elephants. Whenever the elephants invade, there is nothing we can do to prevent them from destroying crops," he said, urging the wildlife authorities to take swift action.
Kukisi Kahindi Mlisho from Shakahola said he has to guard his two-acre farm.
“When I hear the elephants coming at night, I just light a torch and beat a drum because there is nothing else I can do," he said.
Kahindi said they are helpless when the animals invade the farms. A herd of 20 elephants can easily destroy two-acre crops, he added.
He wants the government to intervene to stop human-wildlife conflicts.
Magarini MP Michael Kingi said he has sought the help of KWS and provided fuel and a vehicle to support their operation but the problem persists.
He said he reached out to Wildlife CS Balala but it seemed he was being misled by KWS officers who told him there were no elephants in Chakama.
“It is clear that the ministry is not ready to resolve the problem. I have written a letter to the ministry and the CS, but we have not got any solution from them. I also took the matter to Parliament and Balala promised to take action and resolve the issue,” he said.