• They said the jumbos have been attacking and killing residents, besides destroying crops and ransacking their homes.
• Residents said at least eight other locals have lost lives in the past four years.
Image: SHABAN OMAR
Lunga Lunga residents in Kwale county have urged Kenya Wildlife Service to contain killer elephants or they will do it themselves.
They said the jumbos have been attacking and killing residents, besides destroying crops and ransacking their homes.
Elephants recently killed a 10-year-old girl at her home in Mwereni. She was torn into pieces. She was buried on Saturday.
Residents said at least eight other locals have lost lives in the past four years.
In August a middle-aged man was attacked and seriously injured by elephants in Godo, Lunga Lunga.
Residents, led by Labuku Kombeti, said the jumbos believed to have come from the Tsavo National Park have been constantly attacking their villages. He said they now live in fear of being killed or maimed by the animals.
Wild animals have been venturing out of their habitats in search of food and water because of the prolonged drought.
More than 21 villages are affected by the ongoing elephant menace. They include Kwanyanje, Masinga, Mandawacho, Mabambarani and Ndavaya.
"The animals raid our homes destroying anything they come across," Labuku said.
He said apart from killing people, they also damage their crops.
Mwanza Mwania said the level of poverty and hunger in the area keeps on increasing because it is almost impossible to grow crops due to the elephants.
He said they are staring at acute starvation since crops are uprooted and the animals come for the remaining food stock right in their houses.
"The drought is taking its toll on us. Crops and food in the houses are being destroyed by the elephants. How are we going to survive?" Mwania posed.
Mwania said the jumbos ransack their homes, which they access through windows and doors using their trunks, and turn things upside down as they search for food.
Mabambarani farmer Elizabeth Mwero said it has been five years since cases of human-wild conflict surged.
She said each year she has been losing her food crops to the elephants.
Mwero said wild animals invade the homesteads day and night, making it hard for them to do active farming or other income generating activities.
She said the elephants also pollute water as they compete for the commodity.
Mwero said some children are forced to skip school due to fear of being attacked by animals.
"Our children go to school late and end classes early for fear of being attacked by elephants," Mwero said.
Resident Isack Njau threatened that residents would take action if KWS fails to contain the killer elephants.
He urged President William Ruto to intervene and ensure the affected victims are compensated.
Newton Kioko from Kwa Nyanje village also appealed to KWS to find a suitable solution to the rising human-wildlife conflicts in Kwale.
Two months ago, KWS county senior warden officer Jacob Orahle cautioned residents to be vigilant over rising animal attacks in the area.
Orahle said Lunga Lunga, Kinango and Samburu were the most affected subcounties, asking residents to report any cases on time for quick action.
He warned residents against confronting wild animals but instead to seek help from KWS officers.
Edited by A.N
Image: SHABAN OMAR
Image: SHABAN OMAR