Farmers in Ratta, Seme, Kisumu County, are calling for urgent government action and relief food after bold monkeys invaded their farms and destroyed crops, pushing them toward food insecurity. The raids have continued for months, causing significant losses that have slashed harvests. Traditional deterrence methods have failed to provide lasting protection.
On Tuesday, December 9, 2025, farmers in Ratta raised the alarm over monkeys that have been raiding their farms for months. The animals have devastated crops including maize and cassava, leaving many families facing food shortages. One farmer stated, “I’ve planted maize in two farms, but I won’t be able to store any in my house, I’ll eat everything. The monkeys have consumed everything. So if it reaches January, the farm produce will be finished even before I taste anything.”
The monkeys have become increasingly bold, even attacking dogs trying to guard the fields. Another farmer shared, “A day ago, I cooked some cassava for my children, and then the monkeys came and consumed everything. The children went to school hungry.” This has forced farmers to spend long hours in their fields, disrupting daily routines.
Desperate measures like slingshots, catapults, dogs, rattling metal tins, and chilli barriers have offered only temporary relief. Efforts to contact local leaders and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have gone unanswered, leaving residents without support or compensation. Similar invasions have occurred in Homa Bay County near Ruma National Park, attributed to habitat loss and climate pressures.
Studies indicate primates cause up to 96 percent of crop-raiding incidents. Farmers in Ratta now urge the government to address the menace and provide relief food to help families cope with the ongoing destruction.