Residents of Kanderi and Kagongo villages in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County are calling for immediate government intervention after large groups of monkeys invaded their homes and farms, causing widespread destruction and fear among locals.
The animals, believed to be migrating from the Thiba Dam area, have become an everyday nightmare for villagers who say their livelihoods and safety are at risk.
‘We Can’t Plant or Harvest Anything’ — Residents Overwhelmed
Led by residents Simon Ndege Gitari and Richard Muchira, villagers say their once peaceful community has turned chaotic as monkeys roam freely across homesteads and farms.
“The biggest concern is the damage they are causing to our crops. We can’t plant or harvest anything without them showing up,”
— Simon Ndege
The monkeys have destroyed maize meant for silage, raided fruit trees, devastated banana plants, and eaten coffee cherries and macadamia nuts, leaving farmers counting losses.
Muchira said the monkeys sometimes turn aggressive:
“Sometimes they even chase women around the homesteads.”
Fear Keeps Some Residents Away From Church
The situation has escalated to the point where some villagers fear leaving their homes.
Ndege and others say they cannot keep their doors open, tend to their fields, or perform normal household activities.
Elder Gitari, a local resident, revealed he has not attended church for three weeks:
“Even my grandchildren keep asking why. They don’t understand that the same animals we pray about are the ones causing us so much destruction.”
Frustration as Authorities Delay Response
Villagers accuse local authorities of failing to offer timely assistance.
Resident Jane Wambui expressed disappointment after being referred from one office to another:
“I went to the Deputy County Commissioner’s office in Kianyaga, but they told me to go to their main office in Embu. We live in Kirinyaga—why should we have to travel to another county to get help? Where will we even get the fare?”
Residents say the monkey menace has reached crisis levels and demand an immediate response.
Call for KWS Intervention
The villagers are now appealing to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and county leaders to urgently intervene before the situation worsens.
They want wildlife officers to:
- Control and relocate the monkeys
- Protect farms and homes
- Establish long-term mitigation measures
- Improve response channels for human-wildlife conflict cases
Farmers fear their livelihoods may collapse if action is not taken soon.
Conclusion
The Kirinyaga monkey invasion highlights growing human-wildlife conflict challenges in rural Kenya, especially near major water bodies and conservation zones. Residents hope authorities will respond swiftly before the situation spirals further out of control.
