Illegal herders in Taita Taveta to be flushed out, officials say

Some of the livestock owners whose camels were impounded by the Taita Taveta County government at Voi show grounds negotiating with Livestock CEC Davis Mwangoma (right). More than 200 camels were recently held after they were found grazing in resident’s farms in Mwatate Sub-County. PHOTO | LUCY MKANYIKA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The livestock which are mainly exported to Mauritius are fattened at the ranches.
  • Governor Granton Samboja and County Commissioner Rhonda Onyancha said there are efforts to contain illegal grazing.
  • Residents in parts of Mwatate Sub-County raised the alarm over harassment from herders.

Efforts by security agencies to contain illegal grazing in Tsavo National Park and neighbouring community land have been met by resistance from herders as some of those who had been driven out have forced their way back into the vast conservancies.

Thousands of livestock have been driven into Taita Taveta County in search of water and pasture.

Livestock traders from northern Kenya have signed agreements with ranch owners as the area is known to be a disease-free zone.

The livestock which are mainly exported to Mauritius are fattened at the ranches.

RANCHES OVERSTOCKED

Due to lack of mechanisms to monitor the number of livestock brought by the grazers, the owners have taken advantage of the situation and overstocked the leased grazing land, forcing some livestock to spill over to Tsavo West National Park and the neighbouring community land.

Recently, hundreds of camels were impounded by the county government after they were found grazing in private farms.

Governor Granton Samboja and County Commissioner Rhonda Onyancha said there are efforts to contain illegal grazing.

Ms Onyancha said they are in talks with the county’s Agriculture and Livestock department to do a census to know the number of livestock which are in the county legally.

“After the census, then we will know how many animals are here illegally, then we will partner with the county government to drive them out,” she said.

HARASSMENT

Residents in parts of Mwatate Sub-County raised the alarm over harassment from herders who forcibly graze their livestock in their farms, destroying crops.

They also claimed that some of the herders were armed with machetes and knives, endangering the lives of residents.

“When the residents come to us it becomes a security issue now. However, the county government is the one responsible for containing the illegal grazing,” the county commissioner said.

In the past, some locals in Sagalla and Mwatate were attacked by the herders after they denied the grazers access to their farms.

“We had agreed with the county department that they will do the census then we will give them security to flush out the excess livestock,” Ms Onyancha said when she met the governor at his office in Wundanyi.

IMPOUND ILLEGAL LIVESTOCK

Governor Samboja has also vowed to impound all illegal livestock in the county.

“The camels are a nuisance because the owners don’t care where they graze their animals,” he said.

He said the county will not welcome any investor who cannot benefit residents.

“We welcome investors but only those who will help residents better their lives. We will not be cowed by anyone,” he said.

At the same time, livestock traders in the area have accused the county government of harassment and intimidation.

The traders were speaking after the Agriculture and Livestock department seized and detained more than 200 camels at Voi show grounds.

The animals were found loitering in Sisera and Mariwenyi areas in Mwatate Sub-County.

HOLDING CHARGES

The owners were then forced to pay Sh1,500 per camel to the county government as impounding and holding charges.

Speaking in Voi, they said the camels which were meant for the export market were left hungry and this would affect their health.

A trader, Abdisalan Isaak, said those who had trespassed into the community should have been summoned instead of holding the animals without pasture and water.

He said that they had entered into an agreement with Teri B group ranch to graze their livestock there.

“We are surprised that we are called non-residents yet we have been living here for years. We are residents of this county,” he said.

AGREEMENTS

County Executive for Agriculture and Livestock Davis Mwangoma said the operation will continue until all illegal livestock are removed from Taita Taveta.

He blamed ranch owners for entering into agreements with the livestock owners without involving all stakeholders including the members, county government and security agencies.

“There is a policy we are working on where we will establish a county ranchers’ board. The board will oversee all ranch operations in the county.

Ranches in the county take up to 23 percent of the region’s land mass.