Hassan Joho seeks Sh30m to fight Indian house crows
Indian house crow perches on a table in search of food at Reef Hotel in Mombasa. These birds are extremely bold, curious and are common at the sea port where some roost in the mangrove stands. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The Mombasa government has allocated Sh30 million to fight Indian house crow described by scientists as an invasive pest.
The birds are commonly known as Kunguru or Kurabu.
Seen as a nuisance, they have been wreaking havoc at the Coast, denying tourists and residents a chance to holding outdoor activities.
In open air eateries, the pests have been stealing tourists’ foods.
The aggressive birds, which mostly scavenge in Mwakirunge dumpsite, are also a threat to the aviation industry as they cause crashes.
The county government says these are some of the reasons it has set out to address the nuisance.
In the county’s medium-term draft budget 2018/2019, Sh30 million will be used to fight the birds in five years.
The decision follows outcry from locals and hotel owners.
In Old Town, it is common to see hoteliers employing youth who use stones to scare the birds away.
Tourism players at the Coast, led by the Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) Coast branch executive officer Sam Ikwaye, lauded the move and urged other neighbouring counties infested by the pests to follow suit.
Mr Ikwaye urged Mr Joho to collaborate with other counties, aviation experts, Kenya Wildlife Service and National Environment Management Authority (Nema) in his plan.
“Whenever there is no food in Mombasa they shift to Kwale or Kilifi. Other counties should start the campaign to eradicate the pests. They should use multi-agency approach,” he said.
More follows.
