Kitui Women Representative Irene Kasalu issued a warning to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Penina Malonza to end the conflict between Kitui residents and wildlife especially those living near Tsavo East game park.
While addressing Kitui South residents at Mutha market during the launch of her Huduma Mashinani initiative on Friday (2nd June 2023), Kasalu stated that together with other Wiper Legislators they defended CS Malonza from being rejected in Parliament so that she can save the people of Ukambani from wildlife conflicts which have been happening since independence.
“When you voted for me as your Woman Representative we were competing with your daughter called Penina Malonza and you know that. When I played my cards well, I won the seat and I’m lucky that she was nominated as a Cabinet Secretary for Wildlife. When there were problems in Parliament when they wanted to quash her name I defended her. I took a motion in parliament saying that she must be appointed as the CS for Tourism without looking at our political affiliation since I hoped she will help our people,” Kasalu stated.
Kasalu said that they had hopes that since she comes from Kitui South constituency an area frequented by the wild animals who destroy residents’ farms and other kill their livestock and even people. They hoped that she would do away with the problem within a short period. However, according to the Kitui MP, CS Malonza has continued to ignore her people who are being troubled by wild animals like elephants, buffalos, hyenas, and even lions.
“I know CS Malonza knows that the people of Mutha are being killed by the wildlife while she is the one holding the wildlife docket, I want to tell her that we are giving her an ultimatum of less than one week to solve the problem. We don’t want our people to continue being troubled by elephants yet she is in control,” Kitui MP added.
She also called upon CS Malonza to ensure that those whose crops were destroyed by jumbos and other wild animals were compensated because they were staring at hunger. Yet, they had planted crops from the short rains experienced.
“Our people should be compensated immediately because the reports are with the government officials, we can’t continue being troubled by elephants the same way the camel herders troubled us. If they won’t chase away the wildlife from our farms, we know what we will do,” Kasalu furiously said.
Irene Kasalu’s sentiments come a day after Makueni Senator, Dan Maanzo, called on Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza to resign for failing to drive away elephants that have been troubling the residents of Kibwezi in Makueni County.
