Nairobi — Residents of the larger Meru Central region, many of them farmers, live under fear of elephants.

While the beasts pose a general security threat to all locals, the farmers have been affected more since the animals have been feasting and trampling on acres of crops just before harvest.

The lush green farms in Ruiri Division of Imenti North District suggest bumper harvest this season but the presence of destructive elephants dictate otherwise.

The farmers have for a long time been grappling over marauding elephants from the neighbouring lower Imenti forest every time crops are nearing maturity.

Migratory route

The elephants' migratory route is in Kithoka and Ruiri areas along the Meru-Ruiri road.

Since last December, elephant herds have been streaming into the farms in Kithoka, Kangere, Rwarera Kamutune and Kamuorone, leaving a trail of destruction.

They have flattened acres of maize and beans. They also feast on fruits and vegetables that form the lifeline of farmers.

Security is also threatened as the beasts have been invading human settlements.

When the Nation toured the area last week, Ms Elizabeth Mukiri was counting her losses following a night-long feast by the animals on her farm.

"I am worried since the animals are even passing through homes. Our children are very scared of going to school early in the morning," she says, tears welling in her eyes.

Extent of damage

From past experience, Ms Mukiri knows just the extent of damage the marauding animals can cause.

Last year alone, two farmers were trampled to death, bringing to five those who have died from the elephant-human conflict since 2000.

Scores of residents have also been maimed by the beasts, making the farmers approach every harvesting season with dread.

Ms Janet Kanyua vividly recalls how her mother, Ms Charity Kabeti Ikiba, of Kangere was killed in May last year as she was cutting fodder for her cows. She had been a popular crusader for an end to human/wildlife conflict.

"We suffered a major blow since she was our sole breadwinner," Ms Kanyua says.

Mr Elijah Mugambi is a lucky survivor. His leg bears ugly scars that will forever remind him of the day an elephant gored and dragged him for several metres.

Luckily, Mr Mugambi landed in a ditch and the elephant, convinced he had died, retreated to the forest.

Forever grateful

"The mere mention of the animal sends a shiver down my spine... I am forever grateful that I am alive," Mr Mugambi said.

He has dutifully contributed protection fee to pay the youths who man the temporally gate to the forest.

The area at the foot of Mt Kenya is one of the most productive, but residents at times find themselves relying on relief food after crops are destroyed.

"The elephants feast on almost everything; from legumes, cereals and fruits," says Ms Mukiri.

She showed us a trail of destruction left by migrating elephants from Isiolo.

But there is hope following the arrival of Kenya Wildlife Service rangers to divert the animals from farms and human settlements and restricting them in their habitats.

The rangers' team, code-named Problem Animal Monitoring (Pam) unit, is led by corporal Simon Kilonzo. It has pitched tent at the point where the solar fence restricting wildlife in the Upper Imenti forest breaks, along of the Ruiri-Meru road.

The forest, which stretches up to Mt Kenya, is home of an estimated 300 elephants.

Pam has worked in Narok, Laikipia, Taveta and other areas worst affected by the animal-human conflict in the country.

Before the arrival of the group, residents had to hire youths to light fires at the entrance and guard the place from dusk to dawn.

When we toured the area in mid-December, we found Mr Joseph Mwenda lighting a fire at the fence opening near Ruiri market in the hope that it would scare the elephants. But he says the animals would still stray into the farms.

"They have become hardened and are no longer afraid of the fires. Something needs to be done urgently since we cannot expect the KWS team to stay here forever," says Mr John Mutwiri, who is the chairman of the location Kenya Agricultural Productivity (Kap), a group that grows horticultural produce for sale.

Invading farms

The animals have also become bold and are now invading farms during the day.

"We are spending many hours chasing away the jumbos...we no longer attend to normal day to day duties," says Mr Mutwiri.

Last week, the KWS team spent most of the time driving away the elephants from a farm where they had destroyed hundreds of coffee bushes and horticultural produce.

The KWS team has also proposed the erection of electrified dangling hot wires to prevent animals from straying into farms while letting in traffic and human.

"We have already approached the Ministry of Roads and Public Works so that they can put up the wires," the Meru deputy warder, Mr Peter Maina, told the Nation.

As the long-term solution is being sought, farmers in the meantime have to have to contend with the perennial problem of the elephants from Isiolo, some yet to make it to the forest.