NAIVASHA, Kenya — The Kenya Wildlife Service has attributed the surge in Lake Naivasha wildlife conflict to rising water levels that have displaced animals and pushed them into private farms and homes around the lakeside town.
KWS Senior Assistant Director in charge of Central Rift Gideon Kibati said the Lake Naivasha wildlife crisis began about a year ago when the lake’s water levels started rising, forcing animals away from riparian land into nearby farms.
The agency also cited the closure of wildlife corridors due to upcoming projects and the fencing off of land previously used as pastures as factors worsening the problem.
The Lake Naivasha wildlife conflict has reached a boiling point, with affected residents threatening to take action against the animals following widespread destruction of crops and property.
KWS announced it will begin an exercise to translocate tens of buffalo that have invaded areas, including Mirera, Unity Farm, Mountain View, Karai, and Nyamathi, over the past year.
Lake Naivasha Wildlife Conflict Response
While appealing for patience, Kibati promised compensation for affected residents. He said the government had previously released Sh32 million to compensate families in Nakuru County between 2019 and 2022.
KWS will seek the support of experts and a helicopter to facilitate the translocation exercise.
Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja called for urgent action, saying many families were going hungry due to crop destruction.
She said the Lake Naivasha wildlife conflict had contributed to job losses, food shortages, and disruptions to learning in affected areas. Karanja warned that residents expected the buffaloes to be relocated within a few weeks.
Resident Testimonies on Lake Naivasha Wildlife Conflict
Residents told the meeting about the losses caused by the animals. Esther Nyambura said her crops had been destroyed and claimed her efforts to seek help from KWS were unsuccessful.
Peter Kimemia claimed a woman had been killed by a buffalo, and that affected families were yet to receive compensation.
Farmers’ chairman Peter Chege said the community had sought support from several government agencies without success. He warned that the animals posed a risk to school-going children.
