Whenever Kenyans hear of the word terror! their minds are flooded with bloody images of Al Shabaab cowards shooting unarmed civilians in a mall, a hotel or school.
The recent attack on Dusit D2 Hotel in which at least 21 people were killed has heightened tension across the country. But there are several forms of terror, when a politician steals money meant for educating poor children, then that can be described as terror.
Residents of Rukindu sub-location in Tharaka Nithi county are however dealing with another type of terror, an attack that may make them unable to pay school fees for their children.
These residents are being terrorized by frequent monkey attacks, which are destroying their main source of income. They said the primates have been destroying their crops and lately, they are even raiding their kitchens to eat up food stored there.
“We depend on agriculture and the apes mainly feed on maize, beans and avocados. They have multiplied in numbers and are now in the habit of entering into our kitchens and eating our food,” said Erastus Ngai, a secretary to a local farmers group.
Ngai said if the Kenya Wildlife Service cannot deal with the animals then the residents will be forced to act on their own.
“They have exposed us to hunger through eating our crops and our ready food. I have planted several times but reaped nothing,” said one of the committee members Dorothy Kinyua.
Now, they want the government to give the matter the urgency it deserves. Just like they dealt with the Dusit terrorists. We hope their pleas will reach the relevant authorities.