Harsh weather pushes wildlife into homes, farms in Naivasha

Dry weather conditions have pushed wild animals from their habitats into homes and farms in search of water and pasture.

In Naivasha, wild animals have strayed onto major roads including the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, and Naivasha-Mai Mahiu road putting the lives of motorists in danger.

Several cases of road accidents involving wildlife have been reported on Moi South Lake Road and the Nairobi-Nakuru highway in the last two months.

With the Meteorological Department warning that dry weather will continue for three months, stakeholders have expressed concern that the situation could get worse in the coming weeks.

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Friends of Lake Naivasha chairman Francis Muthui said the number of wildlife fleeing from the lake, ranches, Hellsgate and Mt Longonot national parks was on the rise.

“Nowadays zebras are feeding on the streets of Naivasha while hippos are roaming in Kihoto estate and along the Moi South Lake road exposing motorists to great danger,” he said.

Muthui noted that two national parks are not fenced allowing animals to invade nearby villages.

“The two national parks are not fenced and as a result, residents of nearby villages like Longonot. Olkaria, Ndabibi and Moi Ndabi are facing the consequences,” he said.

He said the situation has been worsened by closure of various wildlife routes mainly along the highway and North Lake road which leads to Kasarani center.

Naivasha Road Safety Association chairman  Joseph Kabono acknowledged that several accidents involving the animals had been reported along the major roads.

Kabono warned that animals are roaming the Gilgil stretch along the highway and Kongoni along the Moi South Lake.

“We have recorded over 10 accidents involving the animals in the last five months and this could worsen if the harsh weather conditions do not change,” he said.

A senior Kenya Wildlife Service officer who declined to be named admitted that the problem was beyond their control as all the game parks in Naivasha were not fenced.

“The biggest challenge we are currently facing is the harsh weather which has pushed the animals into farms and roads but we hope this will change once we get rains,” said the officer.