Wamuzi News Ke
Transport along the Nyahururu-Kinamba and Rumuruti roads in Central Kenya came to a standstill on Monday morning as protests erupted among local residents.
The demonstrations were sparked after a man was fatally trampled by an elephant from a nearby game reserve, igniting widespread outrage over the increasing human-wildlife conflicts in the region.
The protests caused significant traffic disruptions, with residents blocking the roads and vowing to halt all transport activities. Vehicles, including commercial trucks, public service vehicles, and private cars, were stranded in an unusually long traffic jam as drivers awaited police intervention to clear the roads.
Protesters strategically barricaded the roads at Rwathia, just past Maili Saba, using rocks and logs. Motorists were advised to find alternative routes, though reports surfaced of some unruly individuals looting from stranded passengers.
Police attempting to manage the situation were forced to retreat to Nyahururu after demonstrators demanded the immediate fencing of Marmanet Forest before allowing traffic to resume. Efforts by local leaders, such as Igwamiti Member of County Assembly Irene Wachuka, to calm the angry crowd were unsuccessful. Wachuka narrowly escaped harm, fleeing the scene on a motorbike.
The residents called on the government, particularly the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS), to take responsibility for managing the increasing wildlife encroachments. They also demanded compensation for the deceased man and other victims of similar incidents.
Initial reports suggested the elephant had wandered from Marmanet Forest into the man’s property, leading to the tragic encounter.
As of the time of reporting, KWS had not issued a statement addressing the growing human-wildlife conflicts.
This issue has been a long-standing challenge in Kenya. President William Ruto had previously pledged government compensation for those injured or killed in such conflicts. During the launch of a human-wildlife conflict mitigation and compensation program in April last year in Laikipia, Ruto announced the allocation of funds to resolve 7,000 verified cases of such conflicts.
