By Betty Luke
Meru’s Muthara MCA Aurelio Murangiri wants the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to contain wild animals in the parks so as to address increasing cases of human-wildlife conflict in the lower part of the ward.
The legislator told off KWS officers for failing to take action against the elephants that have been wreaking havoc especially in the farms.
He said despite receiving information, the agency had turned a blind eye to the residents concerns.
“It is unfortunate that we are being subjected to hunger despite having had enough rain. We have witnessed massive destruction of our farms and now fear the calamitous situation in the near future,” he said.
The MCA said the residents were demanding that the concerned authorities to take care of the jumbos to end the suffering they were going through.
“If they cannot contain the elephants, let them kill them because we will not allow our people to continue suffering losses out of their (KWS) recklessness,” said Mr Murangiri.
The sentiments come amid growing fear and panic among motorists plying Isiolo-Muriri road of marauding jumbos that are spotted in the evenings.
Mr Albanus Kirimi, a taxi operator, said they are now forced to end their trips early for fear of being attacked by the animals.
The conflict is suspected to have been caused by the ravaging effects of drought that has led to depletion of water and pasture in the parks forcing wildlife to sneak out in search of food.
Marauding elephants have been a threat to food security in Tigania East, Igembe North and Tigania West Sub-Counties even as the areas continue to suffer inadequate rains.
According to residents, the areas just like neighboring Isiolo County have not received enough rainfall for some years.
Among the crops destroyed by the jumbos include tomatoes, onions, maize and beans planted in tens of acres of farms that were under irrigation.
