Hippos have field day as they destroy crops

As night falls, hundreds of villages in Mumias West are on a curfew imposed by hippopotamuses.

Locals have been forced to go to bed early leaving the animals to roam and destroy crops and at times attack livestock.

“The last thing you wish is to meet hippos in the dark,” begins Wycliffe Amunga of Elwanda village who escaped death after a hippo attacked him.

He was returning from work when he bumped into two hippos grazing in a maize farm along the path. One of the beasts charged at him.

“I took off, but by the time l arrived home some 400 metres away, l had fallen three times and hit on a tree stump injuring my head and leg,” explains Amunga who is still undergoing treatment.

Residents have often counted up to seven hippos roaming the villages.

Early last month the hippos raided Ramadhan Shianda’s home, one trampled on his treasured bull that he says cost about Sh50,000.

On the fateful day, he went to bed early and at 11pm, he heard hippos grunt while grazing in his maize farm.

One hippo moved where his cattle sleep- an open space under a tree, and attacked the bull.

“There is nothing l could do because getting out meant trading my life for that of the bull,” says Shianda from Ematawa village.

He was lucky for his two cows were spared.

Ematawa Location chief, Leo Wesonga Wanzala, confirms that the beasts have destroyed acres of land under maize, vegetables, sweet potatoes, ground nuts, nappier grass and killed a number of livestock.

“This is not the first time,” he says on the current wave of destruction. “Hippos have been destroying crops for the past several years.”

In his location the hippos have killed seven bulls in the last two years.

The administrator regrets that the losses running in hundreds of thousands are, “never compensated”.

He adds that officers from Kakamega Forest National Reserve (KFNR) have on several occasion visited, but left without solution.

Isaac Jomo, from Eburangasi village backs his sentiments: “Once in 2017 the officers from KFNR visited during daytime yet we reported that the hippos were destroying crops at night.”

Some locals have since stopped planting for fear their crops will be eaten by the beasts which are often seen in the day in rivers Nzoia and Lusumu that cut through the affected villages.

Buchifi Location chief Joshua Adua says there is a big disconnect between KFNR and the locals.

“People have no idea about the processes of compensation whenever their crops are destroyed or animals killed. The KFNR offices are also very far,” he says.

He fears that the growing number of the beasts translates to growing losses to villagers.  

“I had advised people to fence off their land, but majority cannot afford the luxury,” he says.

Ndorosi Kilodi, Deputy Warden at KFNR denies receiving complaints of hippo attacks on livestock and damage to crops. He peruses his compensation filings to prove.

“We always act on such reports. This time, no one reported,” he explains. 

Ndorosi at the same time pointed a finger at locals farming on riparian land, saying that the space was meant for aquatic wildlife like the hippos to graze when they get out of water.

“No one should farm 30-60 metres from the river depending on the size of the river,” he advises.

Well, some who complained are on the forbidden stretch, but others like Amina Shaban of Elwanda village are of a different view: “I plant crops over one kilometre from the river, hippos still come for the crops, how will he explain that?”

But it is not all gloom as a lasting solution is sought, a number of innovative villagers are using solar lights on the hippos during the night. They keep the lights on to scare the animals that are believed to fear light.

In Ematawa Location, villages affected include Elwanda, Mwilunya, Esisia, Ematiti A, Ematiti B, Emakale and Eshitende. Others are Indoli, Ebubaka, Ebukambara, Eshichirachiri, Ebuchimi and Enyakwaga.

In Buchifi Location, villages affected are Nyapeta, Eburangasi, Iyabo, Wangnyang and Butobe. Others are Shikulu, Shiasuna, Khungwani and Lufufulo.

For compensation; destroyed crops need to be assessed by an agricultural officer before a compensation form is filled, while for injured or killed stock a livestock officer should evaluate the damage and fill the relevant form.

The locals want the KFNR to act fast.