At least 15 people have been killed by roaming wildlife in Lamu in the last two months while over 20 have been severely injured, community rights groups say.
This follows a recent wave of increased migration of wildlife from their natural habitats to human settlements due to drought.
Unable to withstand the thirst and hunger, the animals are leaving their habitatsand killing and injuring those in their way.
Residents have raised the alarm over increased deaths and attacks especially by buffaloes and hippos.
In Bar’goni, Shee Mgambo, Chomo, Bobo, Roka, Kwasasi, Kibiboni, and Mokowe, all in Hindi division, a herd of about 20 buffaloes has been terrorising residents.
The recent victim of the human-wildlife conflict is 40-year-old Ahmed Abdalla who was trampled to death by the herd of buffaloes as he worked in his farm in Kwasasi area on Tuesday.
He has since been buried at his home in Pate Island.
In August, Danson Murimi, 69, of Mikinduni and Maulidi Kisakeni, 66, of Widho village, were gored to death by buffaloes in their farms.
The Kenya Wildlife Service office in Lamu however insists that only eight people have been killed in the last two months.
Other areas experiencing increased human-wildlife conflict in Lamu include Tewa, Widho, Majembeni, Mapenya, Mkunumbi, Koreni, Mavuno, Poromoko, Hongwe, and Lake Amuand.
The situation is the same in Witu division with worst affected areas like Maisha Masha, Mikinduni, Pangani, Lumshi, Pandanguo, Katsaka Kairu, Moa, Maleli, Nyongoro, and Boni forest recording more than one case daily.
Residents have accused the KWS of laxity in containing the wildlife and driving back the roaming ones to their habitats.
They have also asked the state to compensate families of those killed or maimed by wildlife.
The situation has instilled fear among residents with children from Shee Mgambo in Hindi, Mpeketoni, and Witu missing school for fear of being attacked by the animals.
Residents in some areas have reported being unable to venture out of their houses as hippos and buffaloes sleep in their compounds.
Hippos have equally been reported to attack and injure domestic animals like cows, donkeys and goats.
Similarly, tension is high in Lamu Island following the citing of a lone hippo in Shella Beach area.
The stray hippo is said to have sneaked into the island due to the ongoing drought.
On Tuesday, Lamu county KWS commander Mathias Mwavita sent out an alert asking residents to be on the lookout for the hippo to avoid being attacked.
“The animal normally cools in the waters during daytime and comes out to forage in the night. We appeal to beach users and fishermen in the area to be on alert and report to 0722150610 or inbox me for action. A team of our KWS rangers is already out taking charge of the situation,” Mwavita said.
He admitted to the rising cases of human-wildlife conflicts precipitated by drought, adding that it was a challenge to address all arising cases.
“The animals are being pushed out of their habitats because of the drought in addition to the influx of livestock from other counties which has resulted in depletion of pastures.
Mwavita said efforts to conduct water trucking for wildlife have been stifled by increased livestock invading the water points and drinking all the water meant for wildlife.
-Edited by SKanyara
