Ukwala’s Monkey Invasion: A Growing Threat to Food Security

On July 6, 2025, Ukwala Ward in Ugenya, Siaya County, faced a dire monkey invasion, with primates devastating farms and homesteads, threatening residents.

Farmers Collins Onyango and Argwings Odero described the crisis, stating that the primates were causing widespread destruction of crops thereby threatening both their livelihoods and safety.

As reported by Citizen TV and residents on X, the monkey invasion is disrupting Ugenya’s agroecosystem, raising alarms about food security and environmental balance.

The invasion has ravaged crops like maize, sorghum, and beans, critical for Ugenya’s residents. Amina Adhiambo told Citizen Digital, “Many households have been forced to harvest crops prematurely, particularly maize while still green, to salvage whatever they can before the monkeys’ strike.”

This disrupts sustainable farming practices, as premature harvesting reduces yields and soil health. Maurine Atieno added, “Beyond farms, the primates are also ransacking kitchens and homes.”

Residents attribute the Ukwala monkey invasion to Kenya’s tree planting campaign, launched over a decade ago, which increased forest cover but also created primate habitats.

Similar issues have struck elsewhere, in Homa Bay Lambwe West in 2022, monkeys destroyed crops, while Kisii and Nyamira faced school disruptions in June 2025, with residents threatening to kill the monkeys if KWS doesn’t intervene.

The Ukwala monkey invasion risks forcing farmers to clear more land, exacerbating deforestation and undermining Kenya’s sustainability goals.

Safety concerns escalate as monkeys invade homes, echoing Embu’s 2020 crisis, where farmers reported ongoing invasions despite KWS relocations. X posts amplified the urgency, with residents pleading for KWS intervention.

The invasion threatens Siaya’s food security, with crop losses potentially mirroring Kitui’s 70% harvest reductions. Maize, a key crop, is at risk fetching Ksh 2,500–3,000 per 90-kg bag, impacting sustainability.

The Siaya County Assembly, focused on budgets, has not addressed the crisis, leaving farmers desperate. The monkey invasion demands urgent action to protect Ugenya’s green farming future, balancing wildlife conservation with agricultural sustainability in 2025.