Kilifi residents count losses as elephants wreak havoc, destroy crops

They said that their efforts to get the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to deal with the matter have been futile, adding that the county government is also yet to resolve the issue.

The locals said the jumbos have been invading their farms and destroying their crops, leaving them in financial distress.

In extreme cases, the elephants have fatally trampled on locals.

“Wanaharibu shamba na hawaogopi watu, juzi waliua mzee mmoja huko Vitengeni akiwafukuza, (they destroy crops and even killed a man in Vitengeni

as he was chasing them away)," Sirimi Kasiwa, a resident in Mwangae, told Wananchi Reporting.

The case was reported to the area chief and county government to get action from KWS but action is still to be taken.

“Sisi kama wakaji wa huku, tunategemea ukulima. Ndovu wameharibu kila kitu. Hatujui kama tutaishi hivi. Tunauoga wa njaa na maisha yetu pia (we

depend on farming. We do not know our fate now as we are living in fear of food insecurity and our safety)," said Mr. Steve Dadu a farmer and a resident.

He said residents will hold protests if no action is taken. 

KWS was unavailable for comment on the matter by the time of publication.