Tension is rife in Kitui after encroaching camel herders from Northeastern drove their animals into local farms in Kaavani, Kyuso.
Herders from Wajir drove more than 2,000 camels into Kavaani and environs, following dwindling pasture in their home areas due to rain failure.
Residents of Kavaani have expressed fear that the impunity being perpetuated by the camel owners of grazing in farms, might result into a violent clash.
They want security apparatus to drive out the herders and their animals and avert loss of lives, like it has happened in the past.
Although, camel herders have been grazing their livestock in the largely unpoliced Mwingi National Game Reserve, of late, there has been an influx of hundreds of camels straying into farms.
Mandongoi Full Gospel Church pastor Jeremiah Nyayo on Wednesday said security authorities should move with speed and remove the camel herders.
"Whenever they come they usually provoke conflict mostly resulting to fatalities," he said.
Nyayo said residents fear losing their own to the armed camel herders, who shoot to kill at the slightest provocation.
He called on the government to evict the herders without much ado.
"We are sitting on a fast-ticking time bomb. The herders have started complaining their camels are being injured and killed with poisoned arrows. Such claims are an ominous precursor to conflict. Authorities must act fast" Nyayo said.
The cleric also said a herd of 13 camels overrun his pigeon peas and black beans farm in Muyuuni on Monday night and devoured everything.
He said he goaded the camels to Ngomeni police station seeking compensation from the owners but police were not helpful.
"With the help of villagers, we herded the 13 camels for about 30 kilometres to Ngomeni police station but the police did not help.
"We were frustrated because they didn't even bother to book our report in the OB, portending a sinister motive," Nyayo said.
Kavaani chief Timothy Kimwele confirmed that camels invaded Nyayo's farm.
He said the residents concern was genuine and they had asked police to evict the herders and their camels during a security meeting at Kasiluni Christian Church International last Tuesday.
Kyuso deputy county commissioner Reuben Kimosop who chaired the Kasiluni meeting confirmed on Tuesday that a herd of more than 2,000 camels from Wajir was grazing in the area illegally.
He said the herders and their animals had no consent to be in Kitui county.
"But there is no cause for alarm. Everything in under control as police are carrying out daily patrols to pre-empt any conflict.
"Weekly operations will also be carried out, to drive out the camel herders," Kimosop said on phone.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)
