Gichugu farmers lament as monkeys raid crops, invade homes and attack residents

Residents from Githaraini village say the animals have become increasingly aggressive, destroying crops including avocados, macadamia nuts and maize, leaving many households with little to harvest.

Susan Muthoni and Beatrice Wambui said the monkeys no longer limit themselves to farms but have also started invading homes in search of food.

"They destroy our crops and even enter our homes to steal food," said Wambui.

She recalled a recent incident in which residents say a monkey briefly grabbed a child before dropping the child after neighbours raised an alarm.

Wambui said attempts to protect their farms have become dangerous because the monkeys appear unafraid of people.

"When I tried to chase them away by throwing stones, they turned on me. One picked up a stick and chased me from my own farm. My grandchild had to tell me to call the police," she said.

Nicholas Githinji said the raids begin at daybreak, with the animals descending on farms before residents can protect their crops.

"They start very early in the morning and destroy everything. We don't know whether the cold weather is driving them out, but we want the Kenya Wildlife Service to intervene. If nothing is done, many families could lose their harvest," he said.

Mary Muthoni said the monkey population around the forest appears to have grown significantly, worsening the damage to farms.

"There are far more monkeys than before, and they are destroying crops on a large scale. Some families are struggling financially because they have almost nothing left to harvest," she said.

The problem extends beyond Githaraini. Residents in Kimunye and Njino, near the Mt. Kenya forest, say they have coexisted with monkeys for years but are now concerned that the animals have become more numerous and destructive.

Farmers say repeated appeals to authorities have yielded little action, even as the raids become more frequent and threaten food security and household incomes. They are now calling on the Kenya Wildlife Service to intervene and help protect communities living near the forest.