A row has erupted in Kerio Valley after hundreds of camels said to belong to a senior government official encroached into Rimoi Game Reserve in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Local residents on June 17, 2025, complained that this was contributing to human-wildlife conflict due to the scramble for limited resources with wild animals, including elephants, now invading people’s farms.

Residents under the umbrella Chebaror, Irong, Keu and Setek Lands Association held a meeting at Nyawaa in Keiyo North on Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

Led by Chairman John Lagat and Daniel Chesire, the residents threatened to forcibly remove the camels in 30 days if their grievances are not addressed.

According to the residents, land owners who were displaced to pave the way for the setting of the reserve have yet to be compensated, while hundreds of camels belonging to a powerful man in government graze in the area freely.

The residents accused their leaders of colluding with the owners of the camels at the expense of the people who elected them.

“We’ve demanded to know the owners of the camels from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel, and they have clearly told us that our leaders know who the owners are,” Lagat said.

The residents said the government should move with speed and verify the Rimoi Game Reserve boundaries, noting that it has eaten into their land contrary to the set three-kilometre width along the Kerio River.

They said the government should urgently fence off the game reserve to avert human-wildlife conflict that has led to the destruction of crops by elephants in the area.

“The county government should facilitate the land demarcation process to allow to allow us to engage in economic projects on our land,” Chesire said.