Kibwezi MP Mwengi Mutuse wants the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) protect residents against marauding elephants that have invaded human settlements.

Mr Mutuse wants the wildlife to remain confined in the Tsavo National Park by fencing off the sanctuary to save residents from adversity of crop destruction and loss of lives occasioned by the animals.

Mutuse was speaking at Kathyaka Market in Kibwezi Sub-County during a women empowerment forum during which he decried the persistent human-wildlife conflict that usually result in loss of lives and crop destruction.

“My people will not continue planting crops only for the wildlife to destroy them,” Mutuse warned.

In the recent past, area residents have raised concern over frequent destruction of crops and property. They accuse KWS of neglect and failure to take action.

The MP said he was a firm supporter of the Kenya Kwanza government that cares about service delivery, hence the need for KWS to act promptly on residents’ grievances to avert further destruction of life and property.

Speaking at the same event, the Aviation and Aerospace Development Principal Secretary Teresia Mbaika promised to reach out to relevant authorities to address the issue of human-wildlife conflict, which she said impacting negatively local people.

“I acknowledge the pain you have suffered due to this menace. I commit to engage the relevant government agencies and local leaders to find a practical solution that will protect both people and wildlife. I encourage Kenyans to take advantage of the various government funding programme to grow their enterprises and ultimately transform the lives of their families and the larger community,” she promised.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Patrick Nyakundi