Hannah Masila is struggling to come to terms with the destruction of property on her farm after elephants invaded the land again, leaving her staring at losses she estimates could run into millions of shillings.
The farmer, who recently returned home after spending years abroad to pursue farming, said the latest incident had left her devastated, with the animals destroying valuable property.
Emotional toll of elephant invasion
In an emotional account, Masila revealed that the family had been experiencing repeated elephant invasions, but the destruction had now reached a point she had never imagined.
For Masila, the losses go beyond the damaged property, as the farm had been the family’s source of income for decades, making the invasions a painful threat to something they had worked hard to build.
“They struck again. This time, they destroyed property worth hundreds of thousands, if not millions of shillings,” she lamented.
The farmer described the experience of watching years of investment suffer extensive damage overnight as heartbreaking.
20 years of work wasted
Masila’s account paints a picture of a family struggling to protect its livelihood while facing a problem that has become increasingly difficult to manage.
She added that the family had never experienced elephant invasions on such a scale before, despite relying on the farm as a source of income for decades.
The latest incident has left her questioning what more they can do to prevent the animals from returning and causing further destruction.
“Imagine watching 20 years of hard work and investment get reduced to nothing overnight. Honestly, sijui hata niseme nini. It’s heartbreaking,” she shared.
Masila seeks help from KWS
Following the latest invasion, Masila said the family reported the incident to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), where they were given forms to fill out.
The report marks a step towards seeking assistance following the destruction, although the eventual outcome of the process remains unclear.
Meanwhile, the family is exploring additional measures to protect the farm from future invasions.
Masila revealed that they had installed more lights on the property and were actively looking for beehives, with plans to install an electric fence.
For now, she is left grappling with the emotional and financial toll of the latest incident, hoping the additional precautions will help protect what remains of the farm.
