Pesky primates: It's monkey business in Murang’a

Following farmers frustrations and complaints of monkeys destroying crops in farms in Gatanga, Murang'a County, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the office of the area MP Edward Muriu have started a week-long exercise to eradicate the destructive primates.

For over 5 years, residents of Kiunyu village say they have incurred huge losses, as monkeys have been invading their farms, breaking into their homes, stealing cooked food and attacking women and children thus posing a serious security threat.

According to one of the affected farmers, the monkeys who are usually moving in groups of 20-30 invade farms and leave hapless farmers watching as they destroy crops.

MP Muriu acknowledged the resurgence of the monkey menace saying they had caused destruction all over areas hence the need for an urgent solution.

He said his office together with the KWS have put in resources to rein in on the destructive animals that have reproduced in their farms and continue to multiply.

Ngui Njenga - while holding a baby monkey - said the monkeys have almost reduced them to beggars as farmers are unable to engage in any meaningful agricultural activities.

They want the government to do an assessment of the damage caused by the animals and find a way of controlling them to save them from imminent hunger.

Veronica Nyambura, another residents, says it has even become impossible to answer the call of nature at night due to fear of being attacked by the animals.