Residents of Ganze in Kilifi County have been living in fear following increased cases of elephants terrorizing villagers at an alarming rate.
Residents and leaders are now calling on the Kenya Wildlife Service to move in fast and relocate the elephants.
It is believed that the elephants are trailing their longtime migratory routes from Tzavo to Arabuko Sokoke Forest along with the areas which have now become settlement areas for residents.
Government authorities however are blaming the locals for staying out until late particularly those burning charcoal which is affecting the relocation exercise by the KWS.
Ganze Member of Parliament Teddy Mwambire said the situation has now become worse making it difficult for parents and the general public to go and look for daily bread and cant pay fees.
Speaking at Vitengeni Baptist Secondary school in his constituency after officially opening a modern dormitory and laboratory he said learning has also been affected as students and teachers are forced to get to school late and leave early to avoid getting into contact with the rogue elephants.
“We expect as from next week there will be a series of meetings with the officials in charge of Wildlife protection (KWS), Provincial administration, my office, and residents to get a permanent solution,” he said.
Mwambire said a few days ago an aeroplane was dispatched for surveillance and established that the elephants are in areas where locals are also bringing charcoal.
He said if the elephants are forced out of the area they will go to the areas inhabited by people and cause harm.
The MP said their aim is to agree with the locals to move out for like two weeks until the relocation is complete.
Ganze Deputy County Commissioner Louis Rono said they held a meeting with Chiefs and directed them to ensure people do not stay in the forest areas but surprisingly there is those burning charcoal who stay there up to late at the night.
Further, he said there is some youth who climb trees with stones and throw them at the elephants putting their lives at risk as elephants can easily fall the trees and harm them.
“KWS officers have been sitting here but there is no work they are doing because relocation has to go up to Tsavo with the elephants when the bullet is fired the elephant will become crazy and anyone they find on the way will be killed, there will be complaints again from the public that elephants have killed a human,” he said.
Rono said they will be holding meetings in all the areas affected separately to ensure locals move out of the areas.
Rashid Mjimba the Ganze Sub County Director of Education said the elephants have affected learning as the movement of p[eople is limited.
In Milore village for example he said children are affected by elephants in the morning and evening together with Ambassador Kithi school.
“As we are talking there are elephants who are terrorizing students at Bamba girls which neighbours Chapungu secondary school, I have just received a phone call that students were heading home but were cornered by the elephants and are running back to their homes,” he said
He called on the relevant authorities to take action quickly to ensure there is smooth learning in schools because terms have been reduced because of Covid 19.
Cleophas Mdibo the principal of Vitengeni Baptist Secondary school said elephants came to the school forcing the students to come late to school.
“I instructed teachers to release them early to avoid being attacked by the elephants, the problem as affected learning in our school, it’s affecting the learning of parents who have to work to get fees,” he said
Elias Mwanza said the elephants should be relocated quickly;ly so as to enable normal learning and day-to-day activities in school.
