Hundreds of families and livestock in parts of Nakuru County are facing starvation due to the harsh weather conditions which have also affected wildlife.
The most affected areas in Naivasha are Maai-Mahiu, Ndabibi, Moi Ndabi and Longonot areas while in Gilgil, the areas hardest hit are Eburu and various IDP camps.
Gilgil Sub County commissioner Kamau Karungo noted that Eburu area was the hardest hit area in the region by the harsh weather conditions.
He said that the issue has been worsened by straying wild animals which are wreaking havoc in many farms.
“Tens of families in this sub county have been affected by the harsh weather conditions but the government is seeking ways of assisting them,” he said.
Naivasha Sub County commissioner Abraham Kemboi admitted that the harsh weather condition was taking its toll on tens of area residents and livestock.
“Hundreds of wild animals have also been affected by the harsh weather conditions leading to an increase in cases of human-wildlife conflict,” he said.
Nominated MCA Esther Njeri said that wild animals were straying from game parks and sanctuary into farms in search of pasture.
“We have in the last couple of weeks seen a sharp increase in straying wild animals around Naivasha which are destroying crops,” she said.
The chairman of the implementation committee in the county assembly Simon Wanango admitted that there was a food crisis. He said that it has become the norm in some estates for wild animals to roam into their farms in the last one month.
“There is a looming food shortage in some parts of the county and we are working on measures of addressing the crisis,” he said.
Also hundreds of wild animals are staring at death due to the ongoing drought that has adversely affected various game parks across the country for the last couple of months. The warden in charge of Hells Gate National Park Muteru Njauini admitted that the harsh weather condition was taking its toll on the wild animals.
The officer said that the issue had been complicated by the closure of various wildlife corridors around Lake Naivasha.
“Many wild animals cannot access the lake for water or the riparian land for pastures due to closure of corridors and increased development,” he said.