Scores of Murang’a farmers have petitioned the National Assembly seeking compensation after vervet monkeys wreak havoc in their farms.The more than 2,000 farmers drawn from various parts of the county want the destruction of their farm produce caused by monkeys to be compensated for, decrying huge losses caused by the primates.In the petition, the farmers claimed they are not liable to get any reparation from the government as monkeys are not categorized as wild animals that attract compensation.The petition wants the national assembly to review the Kenya Wildlife Management and Conservation Act 2013 and include vervet monkeys as wildlife species that attract compensation if they destroy property.The farmers also want the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Kenya Wildlife Service to amend the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations 2016, to include compensation as a result of damages caused by the monkeys.Farmers drawn from Gatang’a, Kiharu, Kigumo, and Kahuro among other sub-counties have lamented the
huge destruction of their farm produce saying the animals have subjected them to hunger.The residents argue they are arrested by officers of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) when they try to trap, poison or kill the monkeys despite the animals invading and destroying farm produce even before they mature.The County Deputy Speaker Gachui Mungai who is leading the petition said the massive invasion of farms by monkeys has made it difficult for farmers to fully commercialize their agricultural activities through contract farming due to reduced harvests.Gachui observed that the people of Gatanga, Maragua, Kandara, Kigumo and even Gatundu North have been left food insecure as the monkeys ravage their farms season after season.In a few weeks’ time, Gachui noted they will present the petition before the National Assembly’s Speaker saying if the petition sails through, it will be a big reprieve to farmers of Murang’a County.’The animals have been a nuisance to residents of Murang’a. They even access people’s houses and ma
ke away with anything edible. The monkeys also pose a threat to children and women,’ posed the deputy speaker who is also Kihumbuini MCA.One of the local residents, Mary Wambui, observed that they have been forced to change their lifestyles to accommodate the monkeys.’If you leave food outside the house, the monkeys carry them, especially vegetables. They also run away without utensils and sometimes you may never get the ferried utensil back,’ argued Wambui.She continued ‘Children cannot be left outside unattended due to fear of being attacked by the monkeys as they look for food.’Wambui further observed the monkeys don’t fear women saying when one tries to chase them away, they take a stance and make noises, forcing the woman to walk away instead.’We call for a permanent solution since these animals have become a burden to us. Let the parliament hear our cries and help us from the destruction done by the monkeys,’ she appealed.John Karanja, a farmer from Gatanga noted that the animals have been invading his
macadamia, bananas, avocado and maize crops leaving him without harvests.Karanja noted that the monkeys destroy the fruits before they mature saying some years back, the fruits and crops used to give him enough income to take care of his family.’If they don’t compensate us, let them allow us to start trapping and killing them as we can’t just watch helplessly as our crops are destroyed,’ he added.

Source: Kenya News Agency