Government to Erect Electric Fence to Resolve Human Wildlife Conflict in Ganze

By Robby Ngoba

Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com

The National Government has announced its plan to construct an electric fence around Tsavo East National Park in Ganze subcounty to address human and wildlife conflict.

Speaking during the launch of the Last Mile Connectivity Programme there, President William Ruto announced the plan saying that they have already allocated money for the construction which was geared to begin this year.

”We already have gotten money for the construction of the fence.We are now looking for a contractor for the project so that we can retrain the elephants,” he said.

He emphasised that the efforts were geared towards permanently addressing the perennial cases of wild animals especially elephants straying into people’s homes and farmlands causing massive destruction.

President Ruto said that he has already spoken to the KWS director general and the project is geared to start soon.

For decades elephant invasions have wreaked havoc in farms causing food and water scarcity.

Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu Tungule on his part said the menace has been ongoing for years and it remained a thorn in the flesh.

”We have a huge problem of human wildlife conflict especially in Bamba Mr President we are requesting for an electric fence around the Tsavo east national park so that the elephants will not be able to access human settlement,” he said.

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mungaro said that the persistent hunger in Ganze has been caused by the elephants’ invasion in farms rendering locals helpless.

During his development tour in Kilifi, Ruto also launched the Construction of the 12km Mjanaheri–Ngomeni Road and flagged off the Magarini Last Mile Electricity connectivity project in Magarini.

Ruto said the government has invested Ksh2.7 billion in road infrastructure and Ksh12 billion in electricity connectivity, transmission and supply stability to accelerate socio-economic growth and support industrialisation in the county.

The projects include the Rabai-Kilifi and Malindi-Kilifi transmission lines, as well as electricity connections for 24,000 households.

Under the Affordable Housing Programme, the Government is also investing Ksh25 billion in the construction of 8,000 housing units, nine modern markets and 4,500-bed student hostels across the country.

Coast leaders accompanying the President led by Mining Cs Hassan Joho and Senate speaker Amason Kingi have also pledged their support in addressing the region’s challenges.