Mr. Wilson Gioko is the Chairman of the KEKIKA PIC Fencing Committee that caters for the Kereita Kamae and Kinari communities where the fence passes through. These communities are on Phase Six, part of the Western side of the Aberdares range. Mr. Gioko was born and raised in Kinari.

1. How did KEKIKA community come about?
Well, Kereita, Karnae and Kinari communities have been in good workmanship for a long time, so we saw the need to join hands for the rhino fence.

2. Have you had any instances of wildlife destroying crops in your shambas lately?
No, not since the fence was built.

3. How has the crop yield been this season?
There has been abundant crop yield simply because the animals have not been able to come into our shambas. In fact, we are growing crops that we have been unable to grow successfully for a very long time, such as cabbages, carrots, sukuma-wiki, beans, plums, maize, etc.

4. Is the Aberdare fence in line with economic developments for KEKIKA?
People are now experiencing normal lives free from wildlife interference. However, putting the fence up does not mean that logging is totally under control. There are stubborn people who take advantage of the permission they get from the Forest Development to enter the forest and cut excess grass and wood.

5. What is the process of having a gate placed near the community fence-line?
The gates that are put up are meant to help the locals access approved activities. The fencing committee helps to find out the need for a gate using the 1999 EIA for the Rhino Ark fence as its guideline. For example, a path to a river in the forest which the community needs as a source of water.

6. Who mans the gates? Are the gates locked?
The Forest Department mans the gates and issues official permits to go and cut grass or collect firewood. They have charges to enter the forest. No-one is allowed into the forest without such permission from the Forest Department.

7. Have you experienced any traces of vandalism on the gates and new fence?
Yes, around Kereita area, plastic posts were uprooted. Also in Kamae people have short-circuited the electric wire in order to illegally access the forest. This is because some of the community members think that the fence prevents them from continuing their old excessive habits. Some members do not want to pay access fees to the Forest Department

8. So how do you deal with this problem?
Before the fence was constructed, we set up barazas to educate people on the purpose of the fence. Even with this effort. Some do not accept it. However, we still go round and talk to the communities to sensitise them on the positive impacts the fence brings. I suppose with time, we will see improvement in their negative attitudes.

9. What about the forest? Is there any sign of regeneration?
The forest is regenerating positively. Particularly in the bamboo regions, the secondary growth has been noted to maintain a fast pace of growth.

10. Have you started experiencing more rains?
When we talk of nature, we talk of time. For now, positive weather effects have not yet been felt. However, we hope to receive lots of rain as the forest has been protected now.

11. Do you have any woodlot development outside the fence?
In my community, Kamae, we have approximately 5,000 seedlings for planting. We are encouraging our people to plant trees in their shambas through barazas. There has been a positive response and we are happy.

12. As the Chairman of KEKIKA fencing committee, what are some of the challenges that you face?
When you devote yourself to conserve a vital ecosystem, it means you sacrifice a lot of time and finances. This is a great challenge. Convincing the community that they are receiving benefits from the fence is another challenge. It has been a tough thing to do, but I believe, with time, the locals will see the need.

13. Any word of advice?
The fence that Rhino Ark is building is for the benefit of those communities around the fence-line as well as those who depend on the vital water catchment area for water to Nairobi. Change is never easy, but the benefits of having the fence are long term. We keep the wild animals inside the fence and our crops are free to grow well. In turn, we monitor the level of tree cutting and encourage re-forestation. The fencing committee will not end after the construction is over. We will work together to help in maintenance of the fence and woodlot development. So, we need all the support we can find.