Meru County has been plagued by elephant invasions, with farmers in Thau, Lairang'i, Mumui, and Mweronkoro villages in Tigania West counting significant losses.
The elephants, which have migrated from the north, have been targeting farms near the Mburunaro stream, where residents rely on irrigation due to poor rains.
According to residents, the elephants eat crops at night and retreat into the nearby bush during the day, leaving behind destroyed fields and anxious farmers.
On Wednesday, a Nation team spotted a herd of about 10 elephants resting near Mweronkoro Primary School.
Stephen Thairu, a resident of Lairang'i, estimated that the elephants had destroyed two acres of green maize, incurring losses of over Sh100,000.
"After the rains failed, we banked our hopes on irrigation to survive the drought. But the elephants have eaten everything and trampled on what was left," Thairu said.
Geoffrey Kiromi, a farmer in Thau village, lost tomatoes that were almost ready for the market to the elephants.
"They have destroyed the only crop I was relying on to earn a living. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers should stop sleeping on their job," Kiromi said.
Locals are now living in fear of being attacked by the animals, with some children unable to attend school early due to the presence of the elephants.
Meru County Commissioner Fred Ndunga assured that KWS was addressing the elephant invasion and enhancing other interventions to mitigate the situation.
