Stray elephants destroy crops

By ROBERT KIPLAGAT

Baringo KENYA; Farmers in Amaya Village in East Pokot District, Baringo County, are counting losses after stray elephants destroyed their crops.

More than 10 elephants, said to have strayed from the neighbouring Laikipia Nature Conservancy, destroyed over three acres of maize and beans.

Johnstone Lowei, one of the affected farmers, said the elephants have been in the area for the last three days and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) had not responded to their pleas to drive them away.

“These elephants have been a menace in this area and have destroyed many farms,” said Lowei.

Thomas Minito, the Churo/Amaya member of county assembly, has called on KWS to drive the animals back to the conservancy.

“These elephants come from Laikipia Ranch, which is a private ranch. The owner, in conjunction with KWS, should take action as the residents are incurring heavy losses,” said Minito.

He said the community was willing to conserve the wildlife but warned that should the animals continue destroying farms, local residents might be forced to kill them to protect their produce.

The assembly member said the government should establish a KWS station at Kaptuya to end human-wildlife conflict.

When contacted, Baringo KWS Warden Kenneth ole Nashuu said rangers had been sent to drive the elephants back to the conservancy.

Stray elephants have also destroyed crops of unknown value at MacKinnon in Matuga Ward, Kwale County.

According to KWS officials, the elephants are suspected to have strayed from Tsavo National Park.

Kwale County Senior Warden Mohammed Kheri said yesterday that he had received complaints from villagers and had already sent a team of rangers to drive the elephants back to the park. Abdi Rahman, who was among farmers whose crops had been destroyed by the elephants, said MacKinnon residents were now concerned about their safety.

“We don’t wish to kill the elephants. We want to co-exist with the animals but the authorities concerned need to tame them,” Abdi said.