Magarini Deputy County Commissioner Peter Thiong’o has urged area residents to start practicing commercial pasture farming in order to minimize conflicts between farmers and pastoralists.
Mr. Thiong’o advised the residents to take advantage of the influx of thousands of livestock into various parts of the sub-county and grow pasture for sale instead of always picking out fights with livestock herders.
Speaking to the Kenya News Agency on phone Tuesday, Mr. Thiong’o confirmed that thousands of cattle, sheep, goats and camels had thronged the area, causing anxiety among locals, who are predominantly farmers.
Residents had complained that the animals were destroying their cassava and pineapples and called on the government to drive away the pastoralists and their animals to minimize conflicts with farmers.
However, Mr. Thiong’o said some of the residents had formed the habit of leasing out parts of their land to the herders to graze their animals, which after exhausting the pasture move to other farms without the owners’ consent.
“Instead of seeing the pastoralists as a menace, the residents should take advantage of the influx of livestock to start commercial growing of pasture and sell to the pastoralists,” he said.
He also urged the herders to respect the farmers and only drive animals into farms only after negotiating and agreeing with the landowners.
“We know that these herders have fled drought in their areas. I call on them to be respectful to their hosts even as I urge the locals not to take laws into their hands,” he said.
A village elder in Majengo/Kililu village of Wakala Sub-location, Mr. Emmanuel Kahindi, said thousands of cattle, sheep, goats, and camels had invaded many parts of Bungale, destroying cassava, pineapple plants, and water sources.
“Apart from destroying crops, the animals are also competing for water with residents, and this has caused a serious water crisis in this area,” Mr. Kahindi said.
He said one of the villagers and his family had been forced to run away from home after he slashed three head of cattle belonging to the pastoralists.
“Unless this issue is conclusively addressed, there could be conflicts between farmers and the pastoralists, but we have been carrying out campaigns to ensure peace and harmony prevail,” he said.
