This archive report was first published on 17 November 2021.
Residents of Kishushe, Taita Taveta County, are up in arms over the arrival of hundreds of camels at a local ranch, sparking fears of a looming conflict.
According to village elder Littleton Maghanga, the residents were not consulted before the camels were brought in, and they are now demanding that the owners take them back.
Maghanga cited previous violent incidents involving locals and herders, including a clash two years ago in Sagalla that resulted in the death of a farmer and left several people injured in Mwatate.
The county security team had previously ordered camel herders to leave community land to ease tension in the region, but the ranch's management board, led by chairperson Alui Mbela, has gone ahead with the deal.
Mbela said the agreement was reached in the presence of the county cooperative officer and that the ranch needs the income from the camels to pay its workers and overcome a financial crisis caused by an iron ore mining company's failure to pay rates.
However, the ranch's supervisory board, led by chairperson Donald Mwarenge, has accused the management board of high-handedness and demanded an investigation into the deal.
With the ongoing drought, Mwarenge warned that a conflict could erupt between residents and herders over water and pasture.
