Kenya government says it has already put in place measures to prevent the increasing incidences of human-versus-wildlife conflict, particularly marauding elephants that destroy crops and hinder children from attending school in Kibwezi Sub-County in Makueni County.

In off-the-cuff remarks after reading the presidential speech during Mashujaa Day celebrations at Kisayani Boys High School, Makueni County Commissioner Duncan Darusi said Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) rangers will increase patrols to ensure the animals do not cause havoc to people in Kiyaoni, Kisayani and Kathiaka in Kikumbulyu South Ward.

Darusi further explained that KWS rangers will work closely with the local people, so that they can get information alerts early and ensure the animals are pushed back to the park before they cause destruction in the area.

“As a government, we are committed to ensuring wild animals don’t cause disturbances in this area. We will ensure KWS rangers increase patrols to stop the marauding elephants from causing destruction,” he said.

“Also we will engage members of the public to provide prompt information to the officers whenever they sight the elephants, so that they are driven back to their habitat at the Tsavo East Park,” he added.

However, the county commissioner attributed the increase of human-versus-wildlife conflict to climate change that has hit the area due to the prolonged drought that has diminished vegetation cover.

Darusi was reacting to sentiments raised by Kikumbulyu South Ward Member of County Assembly Jades Kalunda and Kisayani Girls High School Principal Jane Mbaluka who raised concerns about wildlife hampering children from going to school as well as destroying crops and interfering with the common life among local people.

The county commissioner also assured wananchi that the government will provide relief food in case the long rains delay saying the current food situation in the area was precarious.

“We sat as the county steering committee early this month. We did assessment on the short and long rains seasons, the situation is dire. But the national and county governments and other stakeholders have taken mitigation measures to ensure the effects of climate change do not adversely affect the people or prevent our children from going to school,” he assured.

During the celebrations, Darusi took issue with the increase of street children in Kibwezi town and implored parents to take their responsibility of caring and parenting their children seriously, so as to have a stable society.

He reminded them that the issue of parenting is not for the police or administration officers but a responsibility of the community, the church and leaders collectively.

Further Darusi challenged the parents to take care of the children, especially during this long holiday period adding that the community should involve the children in good programmes for to keep them busy and curtail idleness.

Speaking during the same forum, the area MCA took issue with individuals whom he did not name preying on young girls and asked the government to take stern measures on them.

While urging parents to take care of their children especially this long holiday, Kalunda warned that as a community, they will not entertain such predators in the society.

“There are bad people preying on children. If you want a school girl, buy uniform for your wife and stop this obsolete habit. We will not negotiate or entertain such predators in our midst,” warned the MCA.

Those present at the function included Kibwezi Deputy County Commissioner Paul Wanyonyi, county and Sub-county teams and the Acting Kibwezi West Sub-County Administrator, Nicolas Mutie, among others.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Patrick Nyakundi