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Some residents from four villages in Lambwe, Suba South constituency, are counting losses after hippos destroyed their crops.
The residents from Matunga, Lwala, Ruma Pap and Opuch said they were staring at starvation after their food crops were destroyed.
The hippos invade farms at night and destroy sorghum, maize, and sweet potatoes by feeding on their leaves.
Resident and victim Alice Odino said the Hippos whose habitat is Lake Victoria go to their farms through River Lambwe to look for food.
“These hippos have become a menace. It’s very hard to deal with them because they invade farms at night,” Odino said.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Odino together with her colleagues asked relevant authorities to help them.
She said the hippos have proliferated and increased in number making them quickly destroy any farm they invade.
Hippos normally herd and graze in groups.
Odino asked Homa Bay county to help them with seeds for replanting.
“We’re helpless and soon staring at hunger because the hippos have destroyed our food. There should be an urgent intervention before the ongoing rains reduce,” she said.
Ruma chief Benjamin Omodo said they have reported the matter to Kenya Wildlife Services office in Homa Bay.
Omodo said the hippos are causing serious economic drawbacks to residents.
Crops standing on more than 25 acres have reportedly been destroyed in the last week.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
