LAIKIPIA WILDLIFE FORUM

West Laikipia Fence Project

Monthly Report
November 2008

Nyumba T O
LAIKIPIA WILDLIFE FORUM

ROYAL NETHERLANDS EMBASSY

LAIKIPIA ELEPHANT PROJECT

Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................1
Fence sections and committees..........................................................................................................................1
Ex-Erok, Mutara and Pesi..............................................................................................................................1
Matigari..........................................................................................................................................................2
Laikipia West Nature Conservancy ...............................................................................................................3
Fence Performance ............................................................................................................................................3
Lombala, Ngorare and Kifuko ......................................................................................................................3
Crop Raids ....................................................................................................................................................7
Implications.......................................................................................................................................................8
Recommendations .............................................................................................................................................8

List of Tables
Table 1: Fence breakages and crop raids............................................................................................................7

List of Figures

Figure 1: Fence Breakages.................................................................................................................................5

Figure 2: Distribution of fence breakages..........................................................................................................6

Introduction
The data and discussions presented in this report are for the months of September and October and
field work for the month of November, 2008. Four fence meetings were carried out in Mutara,
Matigari, Mwenje and Mathira/Thome to discuss the fence maintenance, installation and the start of
the phase two of the fence project. The Ex-Rok, Mutara and Pesi fence committees had a joint
meeting with the ADC Mutara Ranch management and made far reaching resolutions, all of which
are currently being implemented. The LWF CLOs were very instrumental in all the meetings in their
units.
Very little or no meaningful resolutions were made in Mwenje since the LNC was not represented.
However, it was evident there has not been any progress in the fence upgrade and no communication
between the ranch and the committee, a situation threatening to derail the Mwenje community
commitment in the process. Matigari community was responsive and reported progress including
having struck a deal with the ADC Mutara ranch for the security of the energizers and solar panels
and fence repairs (fencers).
Overall, there was an increase in fence breakages in October, but the distribution remained the same.
Similarly, Ex-Rok, Mutara, Pesi and Mwenje fence sections reported high crop raids. Fence voltages
remained on average 6.0kvs along the fence. Elephants were reported to break the fence on entering
the ranches on more occasions than when exiting.
Fence sections and committees
Ex-Erok, Mutara and Pesi
A joint meeting between the three fence committees and ADC Mutara management chaired by the
LWF Fence officer made a number of observations, commitments and resolutions. Attended by over
30 members (Appendix 1), the meeting heard that:
1. Pesi and Ex-Rok fence sections were the hardest hit by elephants and needed very strong

maintenance and configuration. The ADC management concurred and asked for volunteers
to be trained so as to speed up the upgrade process. Consequently, Ex-Rok participants
presented a list of ten volunteers to the meeting and urged for a quick action from the ADC
and LWF. In addition, the ADC management reported plans to buy extra energizers and solar
panels to boost the power along the fence.
2. The constant breaching of the fence by herders was going on with the knowledge of the

lower ranking ranch officials. The ranch representative in the meeting confirmed having
received such reports and was ready to act. In a follow up later on, I confirmed no cases of
herders breaching the fence.
3. The Ex-Rok fence section was being tampered with by relatives of the ranch employees. This

was considered a very dangerous issue and put the lives of the fencers at risk too. A lady
named Margret (a wife to one of the tenants at the Nyaguthi solar house) was reportedly
switching off the power to allow some herders into the ranch when the fencers are away. She
has since been dismissed form this house and a fencer (Life) is currently in charge of the
solar house.

4. To ensure the fence is not breached by the ranch employees or locals, the meeting resolved to
cooperate with the chiefs and village elders to arrest and charge any offenders with trespass
and destruction of property worth millions. In response no cases of people jumping over the
fence or passing through were reported throughout the month. It is hopped this will enhance
the performance of the fence.
5. In response to the constant supervision of the fence upgrade in Mutara by the LWF fence

officer, 5 kilometre fence section between the danglers on the Rumuruti-Nanyuki road and
Mutara HQ gate at ADC is now set to be completed within the next one week. In addition,
over 20 Mutara farmers volunteered to participate in the upgrade of the Pesi fence section
which began on 25th November and so far up to 500 Meters has been done (Plate 1).
However, the process may be delayed by lack of materials. The LWF should therefore move
fast and restock the maintenance wires for Mutara and to start the Ex-Rok sections. The
budgets of which will be prepared in consultation with Josephat (LWF CCPM).

Plate 1: Mutara farmers during the fence upgrade

Matigari
A follow up to the fence meeting held earlier, the meeting was attended by 33 community members
(Appendix 1and Plate 2). Since there was no fence committee existing, the meeting held an election
and nine representatives were elected presided over by Mr. Martin Kahindi (LWF-Uasu Unit). Mr.
Gearge Kihara was elected chairman while Harrison Ngichoke was elected Secretary (Appendix 1).
The meeting heard that:
The community was not in a position to provide security to the energizers and the solar panels for
the fence but was willing to actively take part in the fence installation and maintenance.
Consequently, the community representatives held a negotiation with the ADC and managed to get
the support of the ranch (Letter of commitment had been forwarded to the LWF CCPM).
The community had identified the fence line demarcations and is now eagerly awaiting the surveyor
and LWF for further guidance. The fence should be up as soon as possible as this now remains the
only accessible crop area but with no fence to deter elephants. The meeting was further informed
that the fence was a two strand fence meant for elephant deterrence only. It is my hope that the
materials for the Matigari fence will be available as soon as possible to prevent this interest from
fizzling out.
2

Plate 2: Matigari community members during the fence meeting

Laikipia West Nature Conservancy

This was the most poorly attended meeting with only 8 members. From the onset, it was clear they
were not keen to discuss the fence issues. However, the meeting heard that the members were
frustrated by the lack of responsiveness from the LNC. Indeed some of the attendees declined to
contribute meaningfully to the discussion and requested that LWF take charge since there existed
.bad blood between them and the ranch. It was reported by the CLO that she was informed of the
absence of Mr. Mike and that nobody was thus keen to attend the meeting from the LNC.
A visit to the fence revealed very little upgrade work going on. The fencers stated they had no
information regarding the fence upgrade.
There is need to establish exactly what could be hampering the Mwenje fence upgrade. It is more
likely the farmers may decline to play their role due to constant meetings with little verifiable
resolutions and promises. I would suggest that top LWF management discuss with LNC
management the best way forward.
Fence Performance
Lombala, Ngorare and Kifuko
Lombala, Ngorare and Kifuko reported no fence breakages for the second month running. Contrary
to the expectations, the upgraded Mutara fence section had four breakages (Table 1) by elephants
entering the ranch. Ex-Rok, Pesi and Mwenje sections reported highest fence breakages (Table 1
Figure 1 and figure 2). Overall higher fence breakages were reported when elephants entered and left
the ranches thereby eliminating incidents of breaching the fence in one direction only (Chart 1). Up
to 37% of the fence breakages reported occurred when elephants left and entered the ranches while
up to 34% of cases involved elephants entering ranches.
3

Chart 1: Elephant movement

Figure 1: Fence Breakages

Figure 2: Distribution of fence breakages

Crop Raids
The higher incidents of fence breakages also coincided with higher crop raids from all the study
sites. Indeed, Mutara and Pesi recoded very high crop raids as opposed to the previous months.
Olmoran reported both high fence breakage and crop raids in the month of October up from none in
the previous month (Table 1 and Chart 2).

Fence Section
Ex-erok
Mutara
Pesi
Kifuko
Lombala
Ngurare
Mwenje
Olmoran

September
Fence breakages
Crop raids
17
47
14
7
10
36
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
13
0
0

Breakages

October
Crop raids
34
17
24
0
0
0
15
23

Table 1: Fence breakages and crop raids

a) September incidents
Chart 2:

b) October incidents

Fence breakages and crop raids

49
25
27
0
0
0
44
48

Implications
While it is assumed that the upgraded fence will deter elephants, the data for the month of October
evidenced incidents of breach largely attributed to the elephants entering ADC ranch. The scout and
fencers believe these are elephants from other section on their way back into the ranch. It is thus
important to consider upgrading the whole fence sections to reduce pressure from elephants.
It was initially thought that upgrades should target only pressure points. However, as the data has
shown it is not cost effective to upgrade/reconfigure only a few kilometres of fence sections. This is
further expected to displace fence breakers to the remaining areas thereby compromising the
performance of the fence.

Recommendations
1. There is urgent need to provide the fence maintenance materials to Mutara. All the

available wires have been allocated and is likely to get depleted in the next one week.
2. The Matigari community is currently waiting to be called upon to start work on the

fence. While they had identified the fence line and provided relevant documentations,
the area has not been surveyed to provide for budgetary estimates. Consequently, the
community is concerned that this might be another of the previous promises. There is
need to move fast and carry out the survey, do the budget and provide the materials so
as to begin the work.
3. The Mwenje fence requires very serious and top level intervention. Since there is a
communication breakdown between the ranch officials and the community fence
committee, it is important that the LWF moves fast to establish what is holding the
LNC fence upgrade.

Appendix 1: Meeting attendance

List of people who attended the meetings

Matigari
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36

Miko Kangera
Paul Ngakau
George Munene
Simon Maitho
Joseph Nguru
Eunice Mbuku G
Elizabeth Mutumi
Ruth Warunguru
Margret Murungi
Charity Wanja
Susan Nyaguthi
Rose Ngatha
Elim Lemunya
Korobe Ere
Esekon Leru
Isaya Mwangi
George Kihara
Qambrose Ekai
Peter Ndirangu
Paul Wanyeki
Harrisson Gichohi
James Mwangi
Francis Macharia
Peter Muriuki
Lekipaka Bamboloi
Samwel Kimani
Paul Githinji
Luke Ngatia
Samwel Maina
Naphtali Mangoto
Gerard Maina
Nicholas Mwangi
John Macharia
Simon Gicheru
Joseph Mundia
Joseph Murimi

Mutara
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28

Felix Muchiri
Timothi Wahome
Aten Merikut
John Kariuki
Muigai Patrick
Priscilla Kariuki
Mary Wanjiku
John Mwai
Maina Kamwenji
John Kagunda
Geoffrey Gathaku
George Waithaka
Moses Wangombe
Simon Kariithi
Peter Kiai
Gakure Njabia
Charles Kenywa
Francis Manina
James Atten
Joseph Githaiga
Joseph Wahome
David Wanjau
Nelson Mbuguru
Hallima Hussein
Lawrance Nguchao
Josephat Githaiga
Charles Macharia
Shadrack Gone

Ex-Rok
Village Elder
Mutara
Pesi
Mutara
Pesi
Pesi
Ex-Rok
Ex-Rok
Ex-Rok
Ex-Rok
Munyaka
Ex-Rok
Pesi
Mutara
Pesi
Pesi
Pesi
ADC Fencer
ADC Fencer
LEP Scout
LEP Scout
LEP Scout
Mutara
ADC Fencer
ADC Fencer
Kiamariga
ADC Official