Marauding Elephants From Tsavo Destroy Crops in Bamba, Kilifi County
Former Bamba MCA Daniel Mangi address women in Mitangani village. (Photo by Robby Ngoba)
By Robby Ngoba
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Farmers are counting losses after marauding elephants destroyed their crops in Bamba Ward of Ganze Constituency in Kilifi County.
The strayed wildlife believed to be from Tsavo East National Park caused damages estimated at Sh15 million.
The invasion has left the farmers smarting from losing their food crops such maize, cowpeas, tomatoes and pawpaw that they were expecting to make bumper harvests.
Led by former area MCA Daniel Mangi, the farmers cited Mitangani, Goshi, Midoina, Kavunzoni and Migujini areas as the worst hit by the wildlife destruction leaving farmers writhing with zero expectations of harvesting crops by mid-July.
“The jumbos which move in herds of around 100 to 150 spent several night in the shambas of the farmers, destroying hundreds of acres of maize and other crops which were nearly ready for harvest,” the MCA said.
The animals, according to him, left when the crops had been completely destroyed.
The jumbos, he stated, have come at a time when farmers were still waiting for compensation for crops destroyed previously.
The former ward boss called on the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to quickly intervene and save destitute farmers from the marauding elephants and other wildlife.
Kazungu Katoi, a farmer from Midoina, said the jumbos had destroyed five (5) acres of his farm, leaving him a pauper and a beggar for relief foodstuffs.
“I am real distressed.
Elephants have eaten up and destroyed everything. I will not harvest anything this season. I am worried my children might lack school fees as I have nothing to sell.”
The farmer disclosed that he had been relying on the farm produce to not only provide for his family, but also to educate his children.
He estimated his loss at Sh500,000 and pleaded for compensation from KWS.
Jonson Chai, another farmer, narrated how since 2017 he has dealt with recurrent invasions by the wildlife without recourse from the government.
According to him the animals also posed danger to leaders.
“We live in fear of attack by these roaming elephants. Our children are not safe anymore and especially now that schools have reopened,” he said.
In 2023, two people from Mwangea and Mihandeni in Ganze were killed by marauding elephants when they tried to chase them away.
According to the former MCA the elephants have been roaming the area since 2017 and no permanent solution has been given by the government.
