Schools closed after elephant invasion causes scare in Solai, Nakuru County
Marauding elephants are seen roaming in the bush at Kibatich Village in Lower Solai, Nakuru County on May 18, 2015.Over 10,000 elephants have mysteriously disappeared in Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem in Tanzania in the last six years, a recent census report shows. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Four primary schools remained closed as pupils feared for their lives.
- The elephants invaded Ruiyobei Village in Rongai Nakuru and killed one donkey before causing extensive damage to crops.
- The elephants normally go back after licking the salt without causing any damage, unless they are disturbed by the residents.
- Last year, a man was killed by two elephants as he was taking photographs in Kisanana, Rongai.
Four primary schools in Solai, Nakuru County remained closed Monday after a herd of 26 elephants invaded local farms in search of food.
The presence of the elephants caused panic among the locals with most pupils from Tuiyamoi, Kipnyung’unyi, Ruiyobei, and Ng’eptatich primary schools staying away in fear of attacks.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers who were monitoring the elephants said the animals had travelled from Muchongoi in Baringo County on Sunday in search of salt on the shores of Lake Solai.
The elephants invaded Ruiyobei Village in Rongai, Nakuru and killed one donkey before causing extensive damage to crops.
A resident, Wilson Kiprop said the elephants usually follow the same route at almost the same period every year to lick salt on the shores of Lake Solai but lately their corridor has been blocked by emerging farms.
He said the elephants normally go back after licking the salt without causing any damage, unless they are disturbed by the residents.
Mr Kiprop added that the number of elephants has been increasing every year.
“Most of the times when the elephants pass through the route there is usually good harvest and we expect this season to be the same,” said an optimistic Mr Kiprop.
Lower Solai Assistant chief Stanley Bett said the elephants invaded the village at 3am and destroyed crops in the farms and killed a donkey.
Mr Robert Tanui inspecting his maize crops which were destroyed by a herd of elephants which invaded Kibatich Village in Solai, Nakuru County on May 18, 2015. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
KWS RANGERS RESPOND
He said that KWS rangers from Baringo responded quickly and managed to repulse the animals suspected to have come from Mochongoi in Baringo County.
He said that cases of elephants straying into areas neighbouring Baringo and Laikipia have been frequent.
He added that when residents were allocated land by the government, they were not warned on the existing routes used by the elephants.
“During the partitioning and allocation of land in this area, the residents were not warned on the existing routes used by elephants and which they follow every year,” said Mr Bett.
Last year, a man was killed by two elephants as he was taking photographs in Kisanana, Rongai.
Robert Tanui, the farmer whose donkey was killed by the elephants, asked KWS to compensate him adding that most of his crops were destroyed.
He said that in, he almost lost his life after a herd of elephants invaded the area.
The chief confirmed that the elephants did not injure or kill any resident as witnessed previously but warned residents to be careful and watchful.
