HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT

KWS officials to answer on Kitui conflict

The conflict is with regards to the management of Kitui South Game Reserve

In Summary

• The Kitui government is expected to review its guidelines with respect to access of national parks for grazing and watering livestock purposes.

•  The status should be updated with consideration of drought and other natural disasters in regards to section 102(4) of the Wildlife Conservation Act, 2013. 

A herder and his camels drink water in Moyale, Marsabit county, which has been stricken by drought
A herder and his camels drink water in Moyale, Marsabit county, which has been stricken by drought
Image: GEORGE MURAGE

Senators will meet top officials of the Kenya Wildlife Service on Thursday to discuss human-wildlife conflict.

The meeting is aimed at addressing the conflict with regards to the management of Kitui South Game Reserve.

The set up will be chaired by Baringo Senator William Cheptumo at the Parliament.

KWS is set to respond on the corporate social responsibility initiatives undertaken to combat the issue at hand. 

The Kitui government is expected to review its guidelines with respect to access of national parks for grazing and watering livestock purposes.

The status should be updated with consideration of drought and other natural disasters in regards to section 102(4) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013. 

The drought has brought conflict between the Akamba and Somali communities.

Residents have claimed that children have stopped going to school while others have fled their homes and now spend cold nights in bushes for fear of being attacked.

At least 48 people in the county are said to have been killed while hundreds of women and girls have been raped. 

The officers are said to have found more than 1,000 camels and 2,000 goats, which are being driven away from Kitui county.

The two communities have previously coexisted harmoniously but the conflict has triggered camel herders who forcefully invade the region.

The invasion has led to women being raped, residents being maimed and killed while camels are slaughtered with pangas, provoking the conflict.

The herders and farmers have also encroached on the Kitui South game reserve.

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