Ganze residents in Kilifi live in fear as elephant attacks escalate

Residents of Ganze in Kilifi County are living in fear and despair as a surge in elephant attacks continues to claim lives and destroy livelihoods, leaving entire villages on the brink of ruin.

Across Kavunzoni, Goshi, Mitangani, Mrima wa Ndege and Ndigiria, families say they have lost not only their loved ones but also their only source of income, as marauding elephants trample crops, kill livestock and force people to abandon their farms.

Many villagers now describe their once-thriving agricultural land as graveyards of maize and cassava.

“This is the worst we have ever seen,” said Kadzo Jefwa, a farmer from Kavunzoni whose two-acre maize field was flattened.

“We depend entirely on farming. With everything gone, we have nothing to eat and nothing to sell.”

The human cost has been equally devastating. Over the past two months, two people have been killed in fresh attacks, adding to a grim list of fatalities stretching back years.

The most recent victim, 52-year-old Anderson Suleiman Ngumbao, was trampled to death on September 30 while cutting wood with his wife in Madamani Forest. She managed to escape, but Ngumbao’s death sparked renewed outrage among villagers demanding government action.

Past incidents have left painful scars on the community. In July 2023, 40-year-old Safari Kaviha was killed at his home in Mwangea village while having supper with his family. That same week, 33-year-old Kalume Tambo died after being charged by an elephant while trying to drive the animals away from nearby farms.

Similar tragedies have been reported in Muyra-Chakwe and Goshi, where several residents have lost their lives under similar circumstances.

The impact extends beyond homes and farms. Local schools report frequent disruptions as elephants roam near learning institutions, forcing pupils to delay classes or stay home altogether. “Our children are afraid to go to school. Sometimes we have to escort them, and even then, it is dangerous,” said Masha Charo, a parent.

According to community members, the situation worsened between March and July 2024, when crops worth more than Sh6 million were destroyed. With no harvest and no compensation, many families are now relying on neighbours or aid groups to survive.

“We used to harvest enough to feed our children and sell the rest. Now we are depending on donations. It is humiliating because we did everything right, but the elephants took everything,” said Kombe Ngumbao.

Frustration is mounting over what residents describe as slow and bureaucratic compensation procedures. Many victims must travel long distances to file claims, only to wait years for payouts that rarely arrive. They are now calling for regular patrols by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), better fencing along Tsavo East National Park’s boundary, and swift implementation of the cutline project to keep elephants away from human settlements.

“Compensation takes too long, and the process is a nightmare. Some families gave up completely because they felt the government was ignoring them,” said village elder Said Baya.

Ganze MP Kenneth Charo Kazungu acknowledged the dire situation, warning that the destruction of farms has left thousands destitute. “People here have no alternative source of income. This year, they did not harvest a single cob of maize because elephants destroyed everything,” he said, urging the government to speed up compensation and complete it within six months.

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Kenya Roads Board chairperson Aisha Jumwa described how the attacks have changed everyday life. “People no longer move freely. They rush home before dark because elephants now roam where we used to walk,” she said.

Matuga MP Kassim Tandaza issued a political warning, saying the Kenya Wildlife Service must act before the 2027 elections. “How will people vote if the voters are being killed?” he asked, cautioning that President William Ruto’s government risks losing support if it fails to address the crisis.