Residents of Ganze in Kilifi County face the prospect of a dangerous confrontation with wildlife authorities after their MP threatened to mobilise an armed team to kill elephants accused of destroying farms and invading homes.

Kenneth Kazungu Tungule said he would activate the team if the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) failed to stop the animals from entering settlements and farmland, accusing the agency of neglecting communities affected by the escalating human-wildlife conflict.

The threat raises concerns about possible retaliatory killings of elephants as residents struggle to protect their livelihoods and property, with the MP claiming that hundreds of acres of farmland have been destroyed and several people injured in encounters with the animals.

Speaking at Bamba Primary School, Tungule said residents had been left exposed despite assurances from President William Ruto that the government would address the problem.

He said the President had promised an electric fence to keep elephants away from settlements during a recent visit to the area, alongside increased KWS patrols to drive the animals away from inhabited areas.

However, the MP claimed that the promised measures had yet to materialise, leaving farmers vulnerable to further destruction of their crops and property.

Tungule also accused wildlife officers of stepping up patrols mainly when senior government officials were expected in the area or during national celebrations, rather than maintaining a consistent presence in affected communities.

The MP's threat puts renewed pressure on KWS to explain what measures it has taken to protect residents while preventing the killing of wildlife.

Human-wildlife conflict remains a challenge in parts of Kilifi where settlements and agricultural activities overlap with wildlife habitats and movement routes.

Elephants can destroy crops, damage homes and threaten human life, while attempts to retaliate against them can expose communities to further danger and undermine conservation efforts.

The conflict also places rural households at risk of losing their primary source of food and income when crops are destroyed before harvest. For small-scale farmers, repeated losses can deepen food insecurity and leave families struggling to recover financially.

The mechanisms for reporting wildlife-related incidents and seeking compensation for qualifying injuries, deaths and property losses under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013. The law provides a framework for wildlife conservation and the management of human-wildlife conflict, including compensation claims in specified circumstances.

MP Tungule's warning highlights the urgency of resolving the dispute before frustration among residents leads to violence against wildlife.