By Johnson Chengo
Residents of Ganze, Kilifi County have threatened to kill marauding elephants that have been destroying their crops.
Led by their area MP Kenneth Kazungu, the community said that they have persevered for a long but can’t take it anymore.
The MP said locals had planted a bit of their acreage of maize as food security after the rains but that has all been destroyed by the beasts from Tsavo East National Park who escaped from the park to the villages.
“We had good rains this season and everyone went to the farm to plant maize as a food security. Unfortunately, the herds of elephants that have never been seen in this region descend on our maize farms, flattening them and rendering us to zero again,” he said.
Mr Tungule said they even as leaders called for enhanced patrols but nothing was forthcoming.
“I want to ask our Public Service and Gender CS Aisha Jumwa to talk to her counterpart in the Wildlife docket to make sure that there is enough compensation from the government to our farmers. If this doesn’t happen then we shall kill the elephants as revenge for our longtime suffering,” he said.
Speaking during a combined relief food distribution program from both the county government of Kilifi led by governor Gideon Mung’aro and the national government, cabinet secretary for Gender Ms Aisha Jumwa promised to follow up on the issue of compensation to have enough funds given to the community.
She faulted the little money that the ministry has set as a compensation target for human-wildlife conflict, saying that it is a big injustice to the people.
“I am told that they pay eight shillings per destroyed maize stick. This is not fair. I will follow up with my colleague CS and if they don’t increase their compensation sealing then I will join you in your quest to kill the elephants so that the CS comes in person to address this menace.
The leaders spoke during a food distribution exercise at Bamba.
Meanwhile the relief food distribution program targeted areas of Ganze, Kaloleni and Magarini sub-counties where the Kilifi governor donated bales of Unga while the national government contributed sacks of Rice and beans to the residents to caution them from hunger.
