Mbololo Ward Member of County Assembly (MCA) Laurence Mzugha has called for urgent government intervention to address the escalating human-wildlife conflict in Taita Taveta County, saying residents continue to bear the heavy cost of living alongside wildlife despite dedicating much of their land to conservation.
Speaking on the persistent invasion of farms and villages by wild animals, Mzugha noted that approximately 62 per cent of Taita Taveta County’s land is occupied by Tsavo National Park. He questioned why elephants, lions and other wildlife continue to stray into communities, destroying crops and killing livestock.
The MCA urged President William Ruto to direct the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to strengthen wildlife management and prevent further incursions into human settlements.
Mzugha argued that the frequent movement of wild animals into villages points to shortcomings in wildlife management and warned that residents could stage demonstrations if decisive action is not taken.
“It is heartbreaking to see a widowed mother dedicate her time to rearing her goats, only for a lion that belongs inside the national park to invade the community, kill her livestock, and leave her with absolutely no compensation,” Mzugha said.
In response, Tsavo Regional Deputy Warden Wilson Njue confirmed that KWS had received reports of stray lions and immediately deployed rangers to track, capture and safely return the animals to the park.
Njue commended residents for reporting wildlife sightings promptly and assured them that KWS officers remain on high alert to respond to any incidents.
However, affected residents say the government’s compensation process remains slow and ineffective.
Cathreen Mjomba, a resident of Mbololo, said she has not received any compensation or official communication since seven of her goats were killed by lions in 2021.
To address the delays, Mzugha challenged Taita Taveta Members of Parliament to champion amendments to the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act to ensure victims of human-wildlife conflict receive compensation within 30 days of verified incidents.
He said timely compensation, coupled with stronger wildlife management, would help restore public confidence and reduce tensions between conservation efforts and communities living near protected areas.
Human-wildlife conflict remains one of the biggest conservation challenges in Taita Taveta County, where communities living adjacent to Tsavo National Park frequently experience crop destruction, livestock losses and occasional attacks by wild animals.
