Butterfly farmers in Kilifi County held a peaceful demonstration to protest over alleged mismanagement of the Kipepeo Project within the Arabuko-Sokoke forest in Kilifi County.
The placard and twig-waving protestors took Gede trading Centre in Kilifi North constituency by storm as they marched to the Gedi Museum.
They shouted slogans against some individuals whom they claimed were responsible for the woes facing the project.
One person was arrested as police officers from the Gede police post and the Watamu Police Station were called after the demonstration and placed a cordon at the gate of the Gedi Museum.
The farmers claimed they were representing more than 800 of their colleagues living around the largest tropical forest in East Africa.
They accused some individuals of allegedly shortchanging the farmers by failing to pay them according to their deliveries of butterfly pupae.
The farmers threatened to abandon the project whose aim is to conserve the forest by involving the communities around to sustainably utilise its resources.
Samuel Katoi, a farmer, said the Arabuko Sokoke Forest was under threat since disgruntled farmers had started encroaching and destroying it since they were no longer benefitting from the Kipepeo Project.
He called on President William Ruto and Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro to intervene in the matter.
He implored the Auditor General to audit the project books and recommend sanctions if necessary.
According to Katoi Sh1.26 million meant for the community was allegedly misappropriated.
His sentiments were echoed by Mwambire Kingi and Muramba Charo Nyule, who said the farmers’ efforts to get help from relevant offices had been futile.
