Farmers in Trans Nzoia west district are calling upon the government and Kenya wildlife service to come to their rescue and save them from the monkey menace.
The more than forty monkeys have invaded several areas in the district eating planted plants and stored grains forcing the locals to employ full time guards saying this was an extra expense that they incur due to governments negligence.
One of the farmers Jeremiah Ngetich said that the animals had destroyed his farm until he was forced to hire land elsewhere as his land was totally affected by the troop of over sixty animals and cited that the problem has persisted for over seven years seeing him visit various government agencies.
Ngetich noted that the tall trees were attracting the animals pitying them with the government directive of increasing forest cover saying that their effort to seek audience with wildlife minister Noah Wekesa bore no fruits as the K.W.S officers captured only three of the animals promising to trap the other members of the troop which has never happened from last year to date.
Another victim Yatich Regina narrated hoe she was forced to cut down all her trees in a bid to control the animals in vain.
“ I have decided to start a dairy farm and wonder if they will resort to milking our cattle as the animals behave like human beings, when you try to chase them away they cover themselves with leaves and dare you to come near them,” narrated Yatich
Either the wildlife conservancy agency blamed the farmer of not informing them about the menace.
Speaking on phone, Saiwa swamp senior warden Mary Mayende asked the affected farmers to book the complaint on their occurrence book where they will be availed wardens who will either capture the animals or shoot them.
The farmers are waiting for the government to come to their rescue and save them from the predicaments as they claimed that they do not expect to harvest enough crops as much of it has been destroyed by the animals.
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