LAIKIPIA WILDLIFE FORUM

West Laikipia Fence Project

Monthly Report and Recommendations June 2008

Gabriel N. Kahiro LWF Fence Officer

LAIKIPIA WILDLIFE FORUM

ROYAL NETHERLANDS EMBASSY

LAIKIPIA ELEPHANT PROJECT

MONTHLY REPORT GABRIEL NJENGA LWF FENCE OFFICER

Objective: Visit the management of properties along the fence and conduct a needs assessment Several properties were visited and different challenges obtain in each as discussed below: ADC MUTARA There has been damage on the fence by both elephants and through human activity. For the 32 kilometre section that borders ADC 35 breakages were recorded in the month of June 2008. The section with the highest number of breakages being at Suguroi river- Mutara gate area. From observation, the problem was cattle crossing into ADC with members of the community shorting the fence to allow their livestock to pass through. Elephants are also breaking this part of the fence more frequently (21 times). A meeting with the community neighbouring the damaged section was held with fence officer and CLO Martin Kahindi in attendance. The wazees resolved to ensure no further damages by members of their community occur. However, there has been continued shorting of the fence and something needs to be done primarily by the ADC management, provincial administration and KWS since they also have a stake in the success of the fence. The fencers at ADC did not have voltmeters and chain catchers. This presented a problem in that in order to repair the fence the fencers were shorting a whole section. This greatly reduced the efficacy of the fence since the section shorted would have no voltage. The ADC management has since bought two voltmeters for the fencers. KIFUKO RANCH The Kifuko fence suffered one (1) breakage only in June. An elephant broke through and damaged a post that had to be replaced. The ranch had already started data collection system and they had voltage records even before we introduced the form. A section of the fence had been vandalised but the management talked with the community at Lorian and there has not been an incident since. The ranch needs to have spare posts should an incident like that occur again. In areas with heavy elephant pressure, the projecting wires need to be added and the ranch currently has no wire for that. The management is in process of upgrading the fence by building an extra energizer house at the Gitonga corner of their farm to up the voltage to 11000 volts on the Kifuko section of the fence. LOMBALA RANCH The fence has suffered 2 breakages by elephants but one section was broken by Zebras. The ranch has the necessary equipment for the fencers and they are looking for wires to put fence projections. We identified a dedicated person to collect the voltage data and enter the data into a standard form. A follow up visit was done on 7th and the voltage data was being collected correctly. An elephant scout, James Lobenyoi is collecting fence breakage data at that section.

NGORARE RANCH The ranch has had 1 breakage though there are issues of vandalism of insulators. The fencers had no knowledge of there being a voltmeter on the ranch but the management through David Bolton

assured me there is a voltmeter that he uses. This presents a problem for data collection since fencers ought to know voltage of the fence and for easier detection of shorts. The fence has some improvisation with plastic strips acting as insulators at the main gate. This should have proper porcelain end connectors to maintain the tension on the wire. The management was made aware of this through David

LAIKIPIA NATURE CONSERVANCY I visited the conservancy but I was not able to go along the fence. I talked to Mike Roberts about upgrade to the fence and he assured me they were progressing well. I saw new energizers at the Alpha 3 gate and I talked to the elephant scout for Mwenje. The breakages have reduced but the fence is overgrown with grass. From Alpha 3 gate to Mwenje the voltage is high but some posts are worn out and 6 ft replacement posts are needed. From Alpha 3 to Wangwachi the voltage was 4.7KV. The fencers have been issued with brand new tools and they were happy with them. Table 1: Fence breakage and crop raiding along the Fence - June 2008. Section of the fence Ex-Erok-Suguroi Suguroi-Mutara-Pesi river Pesi-Kifuko energizer House Kifuko energizer -Lombala Ngorare Laikipia Nature Conservancy Fence breakages 7 21 7 3 1 40 No of farms Crop raided 50 115 13 -

The table above shows that the 32 km section bordering ADC Mutara has the highest number of breakages both by elephants and through vandalism by people. The presence of illegal grazers exacerbates the fence problems because they are deliberately shorting the fence using forked sticks to allow the livestock to pass through. The worst hit area is Kiambogo section near Kifuko ranch where Samburu herdsmen live. Community leaders claim to have paid for grass at ADC and it is hard to separate fence damages and inefficiency with presence of these armed illegal grazers.

RECOMMENDATIONS Pressure, both peer and managerial, should be brought to bear on ADC Mutara to keep illegal grazers who are destroying the fence out of their property. Administrative help primary by security organs of state and provincial administration would greatly help ADC keep the illegal grazers out since some are armed. Other sections of the fences not bordering ADC have very few breakages and there are no illegal grazers. While aware to the fact that ADC has more elephant pressure than other properties, it is important that the LWF and KWS put pressure on ADC management to do their part.

 Each property to have a spare 10 spare posts except for ADC who already have 15 posts 5 for each energizer house. To ease communication between the fencers, that each fencer along the section of the fence to have a mobile phone. The fencers at ADC, for example, have to walk close to 20 Km to check a fault while with good communication they should walk half the distance. In other properties however the fencers have radio Kifuko and Lombala. Each fencer at all ranches be kitted with a voltmeter, chain catcher, fencers pliers, a hammer, hacksaw and spare hacksaw blades. After visiting various properties along the fence and talking with the management below is a needs assessment table

WEST LAIKIPIA FENCE PROJECT Needs assessment

Property ADC Mutara Ranch

Needs 15 spare posts 300 x Insulators 100 Porcelain connectors 2 voltmeters 4 x chain catchers 4 x fencers pliers 4 x hacksaws and blades 4 x pcs ordinary hammer. 4 x mobile phones 35 x rolls Wire for projections

Fulfilment to date The management has bought 2 voltmeters but they are not enough as fencers are covering huge distances and the elephant pressure is immense.

They have also collected 15 spare posts 5 for each energizer house.

Kifuko

5 spare posts 2 rolls wire for projections 100 x Insulators 100 x Porcelain connectors

To collect spare posts from Rumuruti KWS

Lombala (George Mwai)

5 spare posts 100 Insulators 100 Porcelain connectors 15 x rolls Wire for projections

To collect posts from Rumuruti KWS

Finafran /Ngorare

5 spare posts 2 voltmeters 100 x Insulators 100 x Porcelain connectors 15 x Wire for projections

To collect posts from Rumuruti KWS

Laikipia nature conservancy

Wire Posts Energizers Tools

A consignment of required equipment and materials were delivered and the LNC management has started fitting the energizers at various points in the fence. Due to repeated breakages on the fence, LNC would require about 10-15 posts to replace the ones broken especially in high pressure area like Mwenje.

2.0 COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Objective: Community Participation in the fence management The community living next to or near the fence are the obvious and biggest beneficiaries of the fence. Despite the obvious, community members are not very active in fence matters. The communities role in managing the fence or helping the management of various ranches to monitor the fence needs to be clearly defined and roles clearly spelt out. We held various meetings with communities along the fence to jump start community participation and more proactive role in the affairs of the fence. 2.1 Ex-Erok area We held a meeting with committee members of the fence. Not all committee members attended since some live very far from the fence. The committee had been constituted earlier by LWF CLO and had met twice before. The committee has allocated members duties and they patrol the fence along their sections. When the incidences of vandalism increase, the committee together with the Administration Police officers based at ExErok patrolled the entire section (ADC/Ol Pejeta corner to Suguroi River) warning the people living in bomas near the fence of consequences of damaging the fence. This section (Nyaguthii) has witnessed fewer breakages (7) than other section. However, it is important to note that the committee doesnt seem to be very cohesive and a lot of training needs to be done. There are few cases of people passing through to fetch firewood and they are also shorting the fence. The very end of the fence (joining Ol Pejeta) has space that is being used as a cattle gate. It is my recommendation that this small gap has live projections to make the fence much more efficient and to be truly multipurpose in keeping elephants away and also stopping stock thefts in the community. Being neighbours to Ol Pejeta which has an extremely efficient fence the members of this committee are comparing the two fences and the perception is that the new west Laikipia fence doesnt have enough moto (voltage). They say they can graze next to ADC but never next to Ol Pejeta. The committee members also felt that the elephants are not breaking as frequently because they are no crops in the farm. Their fear is that with presence of crops in the farms, elephant pressure would increase.

2.2 Mutara This is the area with the highest number of breakages (21 with 115 crop raids). There was no committee in Mutara so we created one. . Since the area has both farmers and pastoralists, we created a committee with every community represented. In addition, I propose we include provincial administration through Mutara chief and the management of ADC. One planning meeting was held and a committee meeting was held on 9th July. Minutes of the meeting are annexed to this report.

Mutara Community Fence Committee Members June 2008 Member name Community/Interest represented Peter Kiai Madam Chief Mrs. Halima Hussein Kinyua Kipokele Atem Marekot Kikuyu Provincial Admin. Somali Samburu Turkana Farming Ex-officio Livestock /business at check point Livestock Livestock Suguroi River to Mutara River Whole section Mutara River to Checkpoint corner Check point corner to Bondeni Bondeni to end of main gate energizer distance George Mwai Junction to Live danglers point on Main road. Section near Pesi river energizer Economic activity Section to look after

Charles Macharia

Kikuyu

Farming

Jane Rotich Epir farm ADC Mutara Manager David Wanjau

Kalenjin Epir Ranch ADC Farm Elephant Scout

Livestock and farming Livestock and horticultural farming Ex-officio Ex-officio

Whole section Collect data on whole section

2.3 Kiambogo area (Pesi) The area has suffered the worst form of vandalism. A whole section of the fence has insulators removed and cattle tracks can be seen where the wire is lifted with forked sticks. On the old concrete posts that have since been removed, they are using the left-over metal in the stumps to hook the wire to allow cattle to cross through. After observing the above, we organised a meeting with the local CLO, Martin Kahindi, and visited the Samburu boma. We talked with elders on the issue ad they said the spring gate was too far from where their cattle used to drink from and thats why they were destroying the fence. We suggested bringing the gate closer but they later resolved to make the watering point more conducive by adding stones to reduce steepness at the watering point. The women in the boma were also destroying the insulators to be able to pass through with firewood. We resolved to help with Martin on creating a better watering point. The shorting stopped for a few days but it is still ongoing. A follow up meeting with provincial administration and ADC management needs to be done. This is where all illegal grazers gain access into ADC.

2.4 Matigari We held a meeting with village elders at Matigari on 8th July regarding a ring fence around the area. The area has 40 homesteads and elephant crop predation at present is extremely serious as they are an enclave of food in the elephant territory. The community members reminded me of a meeting they attended at Sambururu Ltd ranch where they were promised a ring fence. The community members are ready to contribute to the project. The area doesnt have many trees that can be used to do a ring fence except for areas near the river. I talked to the management of Kifuko ranch and they were ready to train community fencer to maintain the ring fence. The community is to elect a committee and inform me when their next meeting is. 3 KWS RAPID RESPONSE TO FENCE BREAKING ELEPHANTS Kenya wildlife service has done a commendable job in responding to fence breakages. In community meetings both at Ex-Erok and Mutara the community members noted and appreciated the quick response by KWS. The only setback seems to be the distance they cover from their Ngobit patrol base to Mutara and Ex-Erok. The community expressed desire to have the KWS stationed at the Mutara Camp or at Ex-Erok. A rapid response team based at the Ministry of Works camp (formerly the Agrotechno site camp) would respond to breaks with much higher efficacy than when they are far away. The Mutara camp is ready and the community is receptive of KWS officers staying there. KWS have been temporarily relocated to Mutara and have been regularly involved in PAC to keep elephants away from the fence. This has been appreciated by the community and given the absence of incidents at Ngobit, KWS should consider making Mutara a permanent post for logistical reasons An officer trained in elephant identification would be able to have a problem animals identified with local scouts and response in destroying the animal or otherwise based on proper identification. Fortunately for KWS and Forum, there is an officer named Sidney Safari who had undergone elephant identity training at Mpala research centre who can get this off the ground. Obviously more training is needed in getting the database entries correct but KWS already have an asset in this process. It is my recommendation that if it is possible with KWS management a permanent Rapid Response Team base with a car and armed askaris be stationed at Mutara. The community is responsive and the vandalism on the fence can greatly reduce since KWS as an institution has a financial and institutional stake in the fence and would help in policing the fence. A hybrid rapid response team of Ol Pejeta Conservancy and KWS would be ideal.

DATA COLLECTION FOR MONITORING THE FENCE. 4.1 Fence Voltage A standard data form for voltage data on the fence section has been designed. Since the fence sections have different voltages we need a sections data rather a whole property voltage data. Kifuko ranch already have a system that they collect data in sections. A similar system would be useful with all properties. In areas with high elephant pressure this would allow the fencers to try to up the voltage to higher levels. The data form will be revised with the section data being considered.

4.2 Fence breakage data Fence breakage data is being collected by elephant scouts along the sections of the fence. A system where the fencers call the elephant scout whenever there is a breakage is being implemented. Due to lack of communication equipment (phones) in some places it is not working very well. In Ngorare for example, we do not have a dedicated person to collect fence breakage data. In all other places, elephant scouts are collecting fence breakage data. A revised data form that includes vandalism and theft of insulators has been included. The information flow from the fencers to scouts to LWF/LEP/Ranch management is demonstrated by the conceptual framework below. Fig 2: Data and action/response flow

Fencer

Laikipia Wildlife forum Fence Laikipia Elephant Project Kenya Wildlife Service Ol Pejeta Conservancy Other Stakeholders

Ranch Management

Fencer Scouts

Fencer

Fencer

4.3 Data Collection Schedule The voltage record forms will be filled daily with fence section readings in the morning and in the evening (8.am and 6p.m.). Fence scouts will collect the voltage data from the ranches and submit them to a designated clerk at LEP/LWF. Fence breakage data forms will be filled every time there is a fence breakage. The LWF/LEP fence officer will collect the forms every fortnight and deliver them to a designated clerk. Fence breakage maps will be produced every end of the month based on the data collected. To ensure quality of data, speed and accuracy, a good rapport between the fence scouts and the fencers need to be established. Recommendation: LEP push to talk phones be issued to fencers and scouts/CLOs as follows

Institution /person ADC Mutara fencers KWS Mutara Camp David Wanjau LEP Joseph Wahome LEP Kifuko Farm Lombala ranch Fence officer - LWF Mwangi Mburu LEP Mwenje

No of Phones 4 2 1 1 3 3 1 1

Institution /person Ngorare James Lobenyoi LEP scout Nelson Mbuguru LEP scout Martin Kahindi- CLO LWF Gitonga Nteere CLO LWF Virginia Nyaguthii - CLO LWF Ol Pejeta team Laikipia Nature Conservancy Total

No of Phones 3 1 1 1 1 1 3 3 30

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Support ADC and other properties with tools and other needs as per the needs assessment above. Upgrade the fence configuration to make it more efficient and increase its deterrence value for elephants. This can be by adding the projections or constructing the short porcupine fence in pressure points. Involve the community more especially areas bordering on ADC Mutara. The committee should always involve the ranch management and provincial administration. Community fence committee needs to be formed at Ngorare and re-activated in Pesi. LWF/LEP/KWS to help develop fence management capacity at ADC. Unlike the other properties where decisions are prompt, in ADC there needs capacity to manage the fence at management level. My recommendation would be ADC Mutara to dedicate one person to work with the Ol Pejeta Conservancy head fencer as an understudy until he has developed capacity to effectively manage fence. LWF/LEP/KWS to speed up the protocol agreement with Ol Pejeta so they can support the ADC section of the fence. KWS to relocated their field base from Ngobit to Mutara to adapt to the changing spatial pattern of Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) on the ground.. This will help in managing the problem animals more efficiently. The Mutara camp only needs new metal doors for the armoury and radio room. Issue communication equipment (radios or phones) to fencers to enhance data collection and coordination. Individual ranches should cater for maintenance, charging and airtime used on the phones. Survey at Matigari to establish exact cost for the ring fence and the community contribution to the undertaking.

MINUTES OF MUTARA FENCE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 9TH JULY 2008 AT CHIEFS OFFICE MUTARA Present: 1. Charles Macharia 2. Peter Kiai 3. Halima Hussein 4. Kinyua Kipokele 5. Shadrack 6. Gabriel Njenga 7. David Wachira 8. Assistant Chief Absent with Apology 1. Gitonga Nteere 2. Jane Rotich Absent without apology 1. Aten Marekot 2. Representative PRELIMINARIES The fence officer called the meeting to order at 12.30 p.m. and thanked the members for availing themselves at such short notice and also thanked the chief for hosting the meeting in her office. He explained the importance of having every community represented in he fence committee and also ADC and scouts involvement in the committee. AGENDA 1. Constituting the Committee 2. Fence Damage 3. Fence patrol 4. A.O.B MIN 1/7/2008 CONSTITUTING THE COMMITTEE The members were briefed by Madam Chief why each had been selected to represent his community interests in the fence committee. She emphasized on the need to community back to community members that the fence had not been erected to keep out specific communities. The fence officer explained the benefit of the fence to all communities and emphasised that when elephants break out they cannot discriminate tribe. Members pointed out the challenges they are Epir farm CLO Central Unit Kiamariga Area Suguroi Area Check Point Area Bondeni ADC Mutara Management Fence officer Laikipia Wildlife Forum Fence Scout Laikipia Elephant Project Mutara Location

facing due to the ongoing drought and were happy that the committee has a representative from ADC Mutara where they are grazing their animals illegally. MIN 2/7/2008 FENCE DAMAGE Mr. Kiai said the fence is not working in his area (along Mutara river) because elephants are coming to their farms just like they used to when there was no fence. He attributed this to the fence having no voltage and said the perception and the optimism that the people had on the fence is changing. Mr. Macharia said the pastoralists were the ones responsible for damaging the fence. Mr. Kipokele said he cannot watch his cattle die when there is grass on the other side of the fence. Ms. Halima Hussein supported Mr. Kipokele and said whether ADC liked it or not they would graze because eve others were grazing. Madam, Chief asked the ADC representative what is the official position of ADC on outsiders grazing there. Shadrack the ADC representative said ADC being 63000 acres was just enough for their 6000 heads of cattle. This elicited a heated argument with community members saying the numbers grazing illegally were more than 10000 and that the ADC workers were corruptly charging the grazers. At this point, Madam chief pointed out that it would have been better if Rashid, the manager, would have been present. She said that it is an open secret that ADC workers were the ones allowing illegal grazers into the ranch thereby further damaging the fence. Mr. Njenga challenged the members to come up with solutions instead of passing the blame. He asked community members how many animals they, the neighbours of ADC have from Suguroi to Pesi. They came up with 350-400 heads of cattle and over 2000 goats and sheep. The ADC representative said that this is a manageable number but the problem arises when you allow one group the other ones would want to come in. He gave an incident last year when Samburu herdsmen burnt ADC pasture when they were ordered out. Community members said this happened because of selective permission to some and disallowing others. The members resolved to have another meeting on Saturday 12th June 2008, to talk to ADC management about allowing only neighbours to graze in ADC during this drought period. In return the neighbours would help in monitoring the fence. MIN 3/7/2008 FENCE PATROL The members assigned themselves duties to patrol sections of the fence adjacent to their areas and work with ADC fencers on making the fence more efficient. To make this more efficient they also resolved to increase the committee by two more members, one near the danglers after Ngobit Junction and at other end near Epir ranch. David Wanjau was assigned the responsibility of communicating this to the new members during the market day at Kiamariga. A.O.B. The members resolved to have another meeting on Saturday to further deliberate on the way forward. Mr. Njenga gave apologies as he would not be available to attend the meeting. There being no other business, the meeting ended at 2.30 p.m. Signed: Secretary Date:..

Signed: Chairman

Date:..