One of the captured monkeys
  • Murang’a residents have turned to hunting monkeys in order to reduce their population
  • According to one hunter, the meat is kept for three days as they inspect it

Residents of Mwirua village in Kiharu, Murang’a County are now feasting on monkey meat.

A spot check by The Nairobian revealed that the residents are hunting monkeys as to reduce their numbers.

They also claim the animals are destroying their farm produce, putting them at risk of starvation.

Daniel Mwangi is one such farmer. He told The Nairobian that the troublesome monkeys have left them counting losses and since they have nothing to eat, they have turned them into their dinner!

“After the crops are destroyed, we go home empty-handed. You have a family to feed. I resorted to monkey meat since I don’t want my family to sleep hungry,” Mwangi said, adding that efforts to trap the monkeys have become fruitless since they are too cunning.

“These monkeys become clever by the day. We used to use traditional methods to trap them, but they are now smarter and avoid the traps,” he said.

Mwangi added that after they slaughter the monkeys, they keep the meat for three days as they examine it.

“Monkey meat is not harmful. The animals feed on crops and fruits, which we also eat,” he said.

His neighbour, Dickson Njoroge, added that the only way to eliminate the monkeys is to feed on them.

“The only way to reduce their numbers is to eat them. The county government initiated projects to reduce their numbers, but nothing much has been achieved,” he said.

It is estimated that Murang’a County has over 200,000 monkeys.

So far, the county government has distributed over 300 traps in the eight sub-counties to help farmers capture the destructive animals ahead of planting season.

Recently, Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria identified monkeys as a threat to food security and allocated Sh3million to facilitate their relocation to their natural habitat.