The government has urged residents living near wildlife habitats to ensure they promptly report any case of crop destruction and human-wildlife conflict to the relevant government authorities and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to enable seamless response and documentation of the incidents.
Igembe North Sub County Deputy County Commissioner Martin Muhia said they will continue working harmonisily with all stakeholders to ensure the recurring human-wildlife conflict that has continued to affect livelihoods in parts of Igembe North and it neighbourihood are resolved amicably.
The DCC was speaking at Antuambui and Ntunene areas in Igembe North constituency, Meru County when he distributed relief food to residents whose crops were destroyed by elephants during the months of May and June this year.
” I urge the residents living near wildlife habitats to ensure they promptly report any case of crop destruction and human-wildlife conflict to the relevant government authorities and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in order to facilitate a seamless response and documentation of the incidents. Let me assure you that the national government will continue working harmonisily with all stakeholders to enable all the recurring human-wildlife conflicts that has continued to affect livelihoods in parts of Igembe North and it neighbourihood are resolved amicably,” said Muhia.
He said the relief food was donated from the national government under its emergency food assistance programme.
The administrator said all the beneficiaries, who suffered huge losses after herds of elephants invaded their farms and destroyed acres of food crops hav received food supplies including maize and beans to help cushion them against the prevailing food shortage brought about by the destruction of their harvest and the prolonged dry spell affecting the region.
“The National Government government is working closely with area chiefs and their assistants to ensure services come close to citizens. We conducted an assessment and compiled a comprehensive list of all the households whose farms were affected by the wildlife invasion to ensure that only genuine victims benefited from the relief programme,” said the DCC.
Muhia said the government understands the hardships the affected families have been facing after losing their crops, noting that the relief food was intended to provide temporary support as residents await the next planting season and other long-term interventions.
