Human-wildlife conflict blamed on Naivasha mega projects

Increasing of human-wildlife conflict in Naivasha has been blamed on capital projects blocking animal migratory routes.

Conservationists warn that if some routes are not reopened and others found, the mega investments could lead to the death of animals and of the tourism sector that brings in billions of shillings every year.

Without their traditional corridors, animals they enter human territory in search of pasture and water; conflicts are inevitable.

The most affected areas are Mai Mahiu and Olkaria where several government projects, including the industrial park and geothermal exploration, are currently going on.

For the first time in recent memory, five elephants found their way into Naivasha, causing massive destruction of property and disruption of traffic along the Naivasha-Mai Mahiu road on December 28.

Francis Muthui, chairman Friends of Lake Naivasha, said the massive investments in Naivasha are a major blow to wildlife conservation.

Muthui said already dozens of animals have been displaced in Mai Mahiu area where the Inland Container Depot and the standard gauge railway station were constructed.

The same displacement has occurred in Olkaria area and Hells Gate National Park where ongoing geothermal drilling has pushed away more animals into neighboring farms and ranches.

He said the Environmental Impact Assessment done before the projects had indicated that wildlife routes would not be affected — but the situation on the ground is very different.

“The projects are economically sound but they have already displaced hundreds of animals and they will in future have a major negative impact on conservation efforts,” he said.

He revisited the invasion of elephants in the town as a major pointer to things to come, noting that tens of wildlife had been blocked from accessing water points and pastures by the projects.

The chairman Lake Naivasha Basin Landscape Association Paul Ruoya said human-wildlife conflict has increased around Lake Naivasha.

He attributed this to encroachment on riparian land by farmers and the blocking of wildlife corridors by investors.

“We have seen an upsurge in development projects in Naivasha and this will help create jobs and generate revenue but will be costly to wildlife conservation,” he said.

Ruoya noted that the closure of wildlife routes and land meant for pastures had pushed the animals into nearby highways leading to an increase in road accidents.

Naivasha deputy county commissioner Kisilu Mutua noted that KWS and security officers had managed to push the herd of elephants into the nearby KWS sanctuary.

He noted that it was still a mystery as to how the five elephants managed to find their way into Naivasha from the Aberdares.

“We had some rare visitors but KWS officers are monitoring the situation and planning on how the elephants can be translocated back to the Aberdares,” he said.

(Edited by V. Graham)