Baboons Terrorize Residents Neighboring Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is a sight to behold. The National Park located to the South of Nakuru City is a beautiful wildlife haven, where tourism merges heart-warming hospitality with spectacular scenery.

However, everything is not well in the neighborhoods of Barut, Mwariki, Manyani and Flamingo areas.

Residents here live in fear of troops of monkeys and baboons who sneak out of the park.

So daring are the animals that they waylay women and children returning home, snatch their baskets and eat whichever food they find.

Mr David Lagat, a resident of Barut says children are locked indoors to avert attacks from the wild animals.

He says the baboons had once raided his chicken farm, his only source of livelihood, which he had to quit rearing after losing more than 20 chicken and several trays of eggs years back.

“The animals easily attack children and women and usually snatch valuables from them. They have previously attacked homes and made away with foodstuffs,” said Lagat.

The residents, now want the government to take action and avert further crisis

The most affected area is Barut in Nakuru West.

Another resident in Manyani estate, Ms Philipine Tele narrates how she was forced to put a razor wire fence around her property after baboons sneaked into her house during lunch time and made a way with the entire plate of Ugali.

"We were forced to cook another Ugali that day. Fortunately, the baboons have kept off since the installation of the razor wire," Ms Tele noted.

According to KWS boss Edward Karanja, the KWS is aware of the unfortunate incidents and have been trying to put measures in place to deter the animals from straying from the park.

“The baboons are clever animals and have found ways to escape out of the park in the past through small gaps and swinging from trees. However, we have managed to contain stray animals by almost 80 percent through the live wires set up all around the park,” Mr Karanja said.

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