Mtito Andei farmers decry destruction by wild animals

Farmers at Thunguni in Mtito Andei, Makueni County are warning that they can no longer provide adequate food for their families after their efforts to grow crops were frustrated by wild animals.

The farmers claim that their problems are increasing day by day as their efforts to seek compensation and redress have been hampered by bureaucracy, since the process of reporting any destruction or injury is too long and costly, while animals continue to wreak havoc on people and their farms.

Speaking after the farmers marched seven kilometers to meet Kenya Wild life Service (KWS) assistant director to present their memorandum, Harun Mutua says that he had planted 23 Mango trees, cotton and maize that were all destroyed by elephants.

Musili Mutambuki narrated how a hyena nearly killed him while he was herding his cattle near his homestead, maiming some of his fingers.

Head teachers in the area have also decried the state of education since wild animals invade schools, frequently forcing children to go home early.

The famers called on the national and county governments to intervene and give them relief food.

The resident further want the KWS to erect an electric fence along their boundary with the Tsavo East and Tsavo West National park.