Residents of Libui-Imenti in Meru county are complaining of alleged harassment from the Kenya wildlife service officials there.
The residents are claiming that they have been asked to remit money every time they want to graze or fetch firewood. Some of the residents who border the forest say they have been falsely accused of engaging in deforestation.
Baite spoke to one of the residents who said that they have to pay Ksh 200 to be allowed to fetch firewood. They are later charged another Ksh 200 after another week without being given certificates.
“We are later barred from accessing the firewood. We’re curious about the significance of being charged, said a resident of Libui.
Another resident, Mr. Kiriinya said: “We are charged every time we enter the forest. I’m being charged Ksh 100 for allowing my sheep to graze in the forest. Because we are being oppressed, we are pleading with the government to intervene.
There is no point in living if all the officials do is oppress us. The boundary fence is constantly being relocated. Residents who own land adjacent to the forest are perplexed about where they can farm because officials continue to place stones as the boundary every time.
The KWS officials told us to form a group for the herders. We established it and elected a chairman. However, we are still unaware of the chairman’s whereabouts.
We had only heard that there was an election at Karandine, and by the time I arrived, the meeting had concluded. One of the KWS officers was sent to collect money from the members at the meeting.
Muthuri and Mutuma are two men who tell KWS officials that herders and those who fetch firewood are involved in deforestation.
It begs the question, why is Ksh 200 required?
We call on the government to step in and enact laws governing how we gather firewood and graze in the forest.
I saw a KWS officer beat a woman and swat her with a stick. She asked her not to return to the woods.”
“Every month, we are charged, but we have no idea where the money goes. Getting firewood and grazing in the forest has become difficult. The forest should be beneficial to us, but it appears that we are oppressed because we live so close to it.
We are pleading with the government to intervene and assist us,” said another resident.
