The Mountain Journal
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Communities in Nginyii, Kianugu, and Muramati villages in Umande ward have rallied behind installation of an electric fence to block wildlife from the Lolldaiga Hills from invading their farms.
During a public participation, the locals told off those blocking the installation of the electric fence designed to shield the farmers from incurring destruction of their crops.
They accused those frustrating the fencing works to have sinister motives as they were putting up tourist hotels along the Timau River.
In the suit before the environment tribunal fronted by 10 petitioners, the LollDaiga Southern border Land Owners Group, retired Maj General Antony Maritim Rob, Aadil Vaian, Carol Muhia, Ashminder Kaur, Thomas Donald White, Dr Hilde Van Leuwee, Abdi Dara, Nicholas Sadron and Susan Weeks.
The petitioners have sued NEMA, Lolldaiga Valley PLC and Lolldaiga Hills Limited, with Kenya Forest service and KWS named as interested parties.
The public participation was led by Laikipia East MP. Mwangi Kiunjuri was held in response to the public outcry by the people of Nginyii village over wildlife invasion, and an unhealthy relationship between them and settlers.
The residents said for peace to prevail in the locality there was need for mutual respect and fairness.
In the meeting the residents reported that they are unable to access water because the road leading to this natural resource has been blocked, and further agonised that the settlers have blocked the erection of a wildlife security fence in the area.
Kiunjuri asked the settlers to open the blocked road to ensure access to water by residents, and withdraw the petition filed seeking to block the erection of a security fence in this area.
“We believe that anyone opposed to the erection of this fence is a threat to the security of Laikipia. Peace can only thrive in an environment where all can flourish regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender, class, caste or any other social markers of difference,” said Kiunjuri.
In the public participation meeting, the residents said there are investors out to intimidate them for the interest of purchasing their land for the purpose of expanding their hotel business enterprises.
The residents cited how in the past 20 years they have suffered owing to the human wildlife conflict, and they were in support of the installation of the electric fence.
The tribunal chairman Emmanuel Mumia ruled that the suit will be heard interpartes on November 15.
