Meru Farmers Petition Parliament Over Vervet Monkey Crop Destruction

Farmers from Nyweri Location in Meru County have approached Parliament seeking urgent intervention to curb the rising conflict with vervet monkeys that are damaging crops and threatening livelihoods.

Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced receipt of a petition from Gilbert Mututa and other community representatives. The petition highlights that the area is mainly home to small-scale farmers reliant on agriculture, including banana, maize, vegetable cultivation, and dairy farming, which are vital for income and food security.

The petitioners report an increase in human-wildlife conflicts, with vervet monkeys invading farms and homesteads, destroying crops, and posing safety risks especially to women, children, and the elderly. This persistent crop destruction has discouraged many farmers from continuing agricultural activities, raising concerns about worsening poverty and food insecurity in the region.

Key issues raised include:

• The aggressive behavior of vervet monkeys causing fear among residents.
• Lack of compensation for crop losses, as vervet monkeys are excluded from the Kenya Wildlife Service's compensation scheme.
• The need for government-led measures to manage human-wildlife conflict sustainably.

The community urges Parliament to work with the Kenya Wildlife Service to revise the compensation framework to include vervet monkeys and implement effective mitigation strategies. They advocate for conservation efforts that promote peaceful coexistence between wildlife and residents.

Speaker Wetang’ula confirmed the petition falls under Parliament’s jurisdiction and has forwarded it to the Public Petitions Committee for review and recommendations.