KWS officers face backlash in Tana Delta as Asa Kone residents decry harassment

Anger against the Kenya Wildlife Services Officers is brewing in Asa-Kone village, west of the Tana Delta Sub-County.

Bordering the Tsavo East National Reserve, Asa-Kone residents have had a long-standing feud over grazing space and a watering spot with the wardens.

"We don't even graze deep in the park where there is wild game, we don't hunt the wildlife, yet they pursue us and beat us at the slightest chance they get, we are tired, "said Abdulahi Dido, a resident.

Dido notes that in the last week, after the president's visit, the wardens have arbitrarily arrested 25 people and locked them up in Voi, 400 kilometres away from their homes.

They claim among the arrested are minors, while some of the elders were robbed and women assaulted after fetching firewood from the dry branches in the park.

"Our biggest crime is to survive, fetching firewood, roots for medicine and grazing our animals in the shrubs near the park, and we are being persecuted for that, "said Abdi Roble, an elder.

Abdi also noted that last year, more than 20 cows died after consuming water from a nearby water pan, and blames KWS for poisoning the water as a move to stop them from watering their animals from there.

Uproar

The incident caused an uproar, with residents threatening to defend themselves against the rangers.

Despite leaders intervening and calming down the situation, nothing much has changed, as residents claim that the situation is worsening by the day.

"Sometimes our children go grazing, they are assaulted by rangers and we lose livestock. They have gotten to the point they are now stealing our goats to roast, we shall stand up for ourselves since the government is reluctant to help us," said Hussein Mohammed, an elder.

Garsen MP Ali Wario echoed the sentiments of the residents, urging the ministries of Interior and Tourism and Wildlife to intervene before the issue escalates to a security disaster.

"These people have been pressed to the wall, and they will fight back, we are trying as leaders to calm them down but that calls for relevant authorities to quickly address this," he said.

He appealed to the government to compensate the residents as well as lead a peaceful dialogue between KWS and the residents in a bid to integrate the residents into conservation efforts.

"Even for tourism to thrive, you need the goodwill of the people, and these are the people you can rely on, " he said.

Tana River KWS Senior Warden Jonathan Malibe noted that the residents are yet to report the matter to them, but reiterated that such acts are unlawful if indeed they are happening.

"We are yet to get a report on such issues, Asa-Kone is far away, nevertheless it is criminal to assault or rob anyone and such should be legally addressed," he said.

However, he said that he would visit the area and liaise with the Voi team to address the issues raised.

In 2020, six wardens were jailed by a Garsen Court for killing 50-year-old Lami Bocha on Christmas Eve in the presence of his children.