Leaders call for law compelling ranchers to put up electric fences

Leaders have called on the county to come up with a law that would compel private ranchers to put up electric fences around their farms.

The law, they said, should also compel the county government to erect fences around all Government forests.

Led by Senator GG Kariuki, the leaders said this was the only way to end rising cases of human-wildlife conflict in the region.

It would also bring to an end cases of poaching as well rivalry between ranchers and residents, they added.

The rivalry has seen ranchers engage in a war of words with residents, resulting in the killing of an elephant in the Laikipia Nature and Conservancy, allegedly by residents.

Mr Kariuki said the county assembly should fast track the law, which would ensure that the animals were enclosed in the ranches and did not destroy people’s farmsor attack residents.

“This is a matter of great concern as we do not want ranchers to clash with residents when the animals invade their farms. This law will bring to an end all these problems that Laikipia people have had to experience for a long time,” he said.

PRIVATE RANCHES

With such a law, the senator said, cases of animals attacking residents would also come to an end.

At least six people have been killed in the last two years by elephants that have strayed from either the private ranches or the forests owned by the Government, especially Rumuruti Forest.

The senator was addressing residents of Nyahururu town on Friday during a leaders' consultative meeting.

The residents blamed the Kenya Wildlife Service for failing to contain the menace.