Farmers in Ngoya village in Upper Kakuajuok Sub location in Karachuonyo constituency have decried an invasion of monkeys destroying their crops.

According to residents Jared Midamba and Vivian Ochieng the monkeys were invading their crops and fruits incurring them heavy losses. They lamented that some wandering monkeys go to an extent of sneaking into homes and eating cooked food in kitchens.

Midamba said the majority of people in the village were farmers and that they are being impoverished by the animals.

 “Residents used to grow maize and groundnuts. This is no longer the case because no one wants to grow crops to feed he monkey or see the crops destroyed,” Midamba said.

Speaking to the press on March 6, the residents said many farmers have been forced to protect their crops from destruction by keeping vigil for longer hours in the field. This prevents them from undertaking other domestic activities. Most farmers face uncertainties after planting.

Ochieng said different fruits mature in different seasons but the monkeys eat even the premature fruits. She said whenever farmers were about to harvest fruits, monkeys eat the plants before they are ready for the market.

“Fruits are eaten by the primates before they mature. We’re appealing to the relevant government authority to help us deal with the monkeys,” Ochieng said.

Residents asked the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to cage the animals and relocate them. Homa Bay KWS Warden Jackson Kibor said he is aware of the monkey invasion in the village.

Beside monkeys, some villages in Homa Bay are also invaded by hyenas that kill domestic animals. Officers from KWS are setting up traps to capture them and relocate them to their natural habitat,” Kibor said.

Kibor said the wild animals that now move to homes are searching for food following the prevailing dry season. He said wild animals can cover long distances when searching for food.

“Monkeys go for fruits in farms because they cannot get food in their natural habitat,” he said. As a means of reducing human wildlife conflict, Kibor asked residents to immediately report to KWS when they spot animals within their homesteads.

He said monkeys can be controlled by putting scare crows in areas where they are commonly spotted.

Monkeys in Karachuonyo Constituency which have invaded farms. (Photo by Davis Langat)

• A Tell / KNA report / By Davis Langat