Stakeholders agree to revive electric fence project

BY Renson Mnyamwezi

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the residents of Taita-Taveta County have agreed to revive Sh60 million stalled electric fence project to minimise persistent wildlife conflict.

The Bura-Alia-Maktau electric fence project stalled about ten years ago due to political interference and a long-standing boundary dispute between the management of Sarova Taita Hills Wildlife Sanctuary and the local community.

Yesterday, the community warden in-charge of Taita, Mr Samuel Rukaria, said the conservation body had agreed with the local community to resuscitate the project following frequent wildlife invasion on people’s farms.

KWS was recently forced to use ground and air operation to drive about 1,000 elephants and buffalos that had invaded people’s settlement at Bura, Shechu, Nyolo and Mwashuman swamps in search of pasture and water.

The troublesome elephants had imposed a virtual dawn-to-dusk curfew on residents. They seriously injured three people, destroyed hundreds of acres of food crops and disrupted learning in schools.

Briefing the press at the sanctuary on the measures taken to address frequent wildlife invasion in the region, the warden said a committee comprising of KWS personnel and other stakeholders had been formed to oversee a quick implementation of the project.

He said once completed the project would enhance agricultural production and improve food security in a region that entirely depends on food supplies from donors.

Rukaria at the same time said the 60km Maktau-Kishushe-Ndii electric fence project is still ongoing, adding KWS had also put in place water pans and wells in the Tsavo conservation area to contain wildlife in the park.

Last week, two people were attacked and killed by marauding buffalos and elephants in the region.

This forced residents to block the busy Mwatate-Taveta road for hours to protest the killings.