In a distressing turn of events, over 30 elephants invaded farms in Pesi village, Salama ward, Laikipia County, on the morning of Monday, March 24. The incident has left local farmers in despair as their crops, which are their primary source of livelihood, were trampled and destroyed by the marauding elephants.
The affected farmers described the scene as chaotic, with the elephants wreaking havoc across their fields. Crops such as maize, beans, and vegetables were left in ruins, leaving the farmers with significant financial losses. Many of these farmers rely solely on agriculture to sustain their families, and the destruction has plunged them into uncertainty about their future.
The farmers are now calling upon the Laikipia County government and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to take immediate action to prevent such incidents from recurring. They have urged the authorities to implement measures to keep wild animals away from human settlements and farmlands. Suggestions from the community include strengthening electric fences, creating wildlife corridors, and increasing patrols in areas prone to human-wildlife conflict.
One farmer lamented, “We have worked tirelessly to cultivate our farms, only for everything to be destroyed in a single morning. We need urgent intervention to protect our livelihoods.”
The Kenya Wildlife Service has previously employed various strategies to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, such as using technology to track wildlife movements and deploying rapid response teams. However, the farmers in Pesi village are demanding more robust and sustainable solutions to ensure their safety and the protection of their crops.
The farmers in Pesi village hope that their plea will prompt swift action from the authorities to prevent further devastation and restore their confidence in farming as a viable livelihood.
