Naibunga Residents Benefit With A 40-Km Electric Fence
Kenya News Agency
May 9, 2023
It’s a relief for Naibunga residents in Laikipia North after benefitting
with a 30 million electric fence to tame human-wildlife conflict in the
area.
The 40-kilometre (km) fence is funded by Italian donors and will shield
residents from the marauding elephants and other dangerous wild animals.
Naibunga Conservancy covers 466 km square of Laikipia North sub-county,
bordering Isiolo County to the north.
Naibunga is also surrounded by Ol Gaboli lodge, Koija Starbeds, Lewaso
Cottages, and Lentile Sanctuary which boost tourism in the area and create
employment to locals.
Naibunga community chairperson Kaparo said elephants had been a major
threat to many families and school going children in the area, however,
with the electric fence, it was a sigh of relief to them.
“This fence surrounds settlement areas and it was an appeal by the
community to get the fence since some were being killed by wild animals
especially elephants. We have been experiencing a lot of destruction from
elephants,” said Kaparo.
With the recent prolonged drought situation in Laikipia, he noted,
elephants invaded homesteads in search of pasture and food, hence risking
lives of the residents.
He noted, earlier, children skipped attending school due to fear of
marauding jumbos and with the fence, they believed that their children will
post good academic results this year.
“With the fence, children have been attending schools normally and we
expect to record good results for the same,” he noted.
Tom Putonio said that an elephant killed her mother near their homestead
back in 2014 and that is when they started an initiative of preventing
human-wildlife conflicts in their community.
Mary Nyanduma said elephants had trampled on fences and water tanks as they
sought water to drink.
Another resident, urged KWS to drive away one elephant terrorising them
within the Naibunga conservancy.
Laikipia North Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) warden Rathima Kolan revealed
that since 2000 to date, a total of 15 deaths caused by wildlife and 18
injuries were recorded in Laikipia North.
Naibunga which has nine group ranches of Koija, Il Motiok, Tiemamut, Musul,
Nkiloriti, Kijabe, Morupusi, Il Polei and Munishoi, the warden noted
human-wildlife conflict had declined since the fence was erected.
“This fence has greatly helped us and I am thankful because as per the data
we have, they say, all elephants should be contained within the ranches and
not in the community neighbourhoods,” said the warden.
https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/naibunga-residents-benefit-with-a-40-km-electric-fence/