Category: wildlife news

From left , Kajiado County Assembly speaker Johnson Osoi,Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku, Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho and nominated senator Mary Seneta addressing journalist in Kajiado

Kajiado governor Joseph Ole Lenku has asked Kenya Wildlife Services to restrain animals staying within the county to resolve an escalating human wildlife conflict.

The governor threatened to direct residents to kill animals that leave the park unless the agency signs a 50% revenue sharing formula with his administration.

He added that wild animals have also contributed to depletion of water sources and claimed that KWS officers are harassing herders looking for pasture and water around parks during the dry spell.

Kajiado is surrounded by Amboseli, Nairobi and Tsavo National parks with human-wildlife contact inevitable, sometimes with deadly results.

The new Director for Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Daniel Omsembe has assured Kajiado residents affected by perennial human -wildlife conflict that they will get compensation.

Speaking after a courtesy call by the office of the governor, Mr. Omsembe who took over from Julius Cheptei, promises compensation  for the affected residents.“We will ensure that all residents affected by wildlife will be compensated. We have the names brought by the county committee on wildlife and we have forwarded them to Nairobi so that the affected will be compensated soon. We are working hard to ensure that human – wildlife conflict is reduced”. He also added that residents should also inform KWS of any animal’s intrusion in their areas.

Kajiado Governor Dr. David Nkedianye said county government will work with KWS to solve animals –human conflicts.

“We want to work together with national government to ensure our people get the right compensation at the right time. Now that there is drought we want KWS to be fair with our people.” Said Nkedienye

There has been a lot of human and animal conflict especially in Amboseli and many residents will now hope for a solution to be agreed on.

Kajiado Governor Dr David Nkedianye and kajiado East MP Peris Tobiko with KWS Deputy Director south Rift Region Julius Cheptei looking at the area map where KWS has been accused of reviewing boundaries without anyone consent.

A human wildlife conflict has ensued at Kajiado near kyulu Game Park prompting a standoff between locals and KWS officers.
The tug of war is wildlife roaming and destroying crops and properties in Masaai community private lands whereas the KWS officers harass locals who graze at the park during this dry season.
In a stormy meeting held at Kyulu between the community, local leaders and KWS representatives, Locals claim their search for pasture in the Kyulu hills national park has been met with vigorous resistances by KWS officers.
They claim locals are battered, arrested for trespass and prosecuted. Incidents of rape cases by the officers has been reported upon bribery incidents for locals to graze in the park.
Locals say they have cohabited with wild animals for long despite untold pain caused to them including deaths.
They say they have been treated inhumanly pushing them to the wall to a point of cutting short the unique cohabitation.
”we have suffered and treated as second rate citizens by KWS officers and we can’t tolerate any more” said Mary Marikua
Natives also claim KWS has kept on reviewing boundaries without their consent currently placing the park at Makueni contrary to original map where the park falls squarely at Kajiado County.
Location of Kyulu hills park location is another thorny issue with Masaai community claiming their boundary with neighboring Makueni County is the railway line.
Kajiado leaders condemned the incidents urging KWS to treat Masaai community as equal partners in protecting wildlife. Leaders urged KWS to extend an olive branch to locals in this dry season to graze in the park.
Kajiado east MP Peris Tobiko condemned the battering incidents.
‘‘No way Maasai women shall accept their men to be battered by officers. It shall get to a point for them to reiterate and fight for the community.
Tobiko also urged KWS officers to respect the community.
Fire breathing Kajiado women MP Mary Seneta said the humiliation to locals shall not be without punishment.
‘‘Some of the KWS officers have been reported to have raped women. We can’t allow this uncouth behavior by errant officers. They must be brought to books”said Mary Seneta
They push for errant officers to be held responsible and punished as well as speedy compensation for families affected by wildlife.
KWS Deputy Director south Rift Region, Julius Cheptei apologized on behalf of errant officers saying it won’t tolerate promising issues raised to be addressed.
Kajiado Governor Dr. David Nkedianye says the Masaai community has been neglected and oppressed by KWS officers despite living with wildlife for so long.
‘‘Wildlife roams freely in our lands destroying properties whereas KWS officers have reduced themselves to battering women. Enough is enough and we demand for compensation for affected families” said Nkedianye
Nkedianye says most KWS officers are sleeping on their jobs
Early this year marauding jumbo killed a middle aged man upon destroying crops and properties worth millions.
The meeting took place three days after a pride of lions attacked and killed 50 goats at Kitengela reserve bordering Nairobi National park.