State pays Sh2.8 billion for wildlife attack claims
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the government has made progress in settling claims, but unresolved cases and budget constraints remain a challenge.
Thousands of Kenyans affected by wildlife attacks have received Sh2.8 billion in compensation over the past two years, highlighting the heavy toll of human-wildlife conflict in the country and the financial burden it places on the state.
New data from the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife shows that since 2018, total compensation has reached Sh4.8 billion, covering victims of wildlife-related injuries, deaths, and destruction of property.
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Between 2009 and 2024, a total of 57,006 incidents of human-wildlife conflict were reported across Kenya.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said the government has made progress in settling claims, but unresolved cases and budget constraints remain a challenge.
“The government has so far paid out Sh2.8 billion in compensation since the current administration took office, leaving a balance of Sh1.36 billion yet to be disbursed. However, challenges such as funding shortfalls, manual claim verification delays, and unresolved legacy claims dating back to 2014 have hampered faster resolution,” Miano said.
The funds were disbursed over two financial years, with Sh908 million paid out in 2023/24 and Sh950 million in the 2024/25 financial year.
Despite these efforts, about 20,000 claims remain at the county level, still awaiting processing.
In response to longstanding concerns over delays and inefficiencies in the system, the government rolled out a new Digital Compensation Scheme in 2024. The scheme, launched as a pilot in six counties, is aimed at modernising how compensation is managed.
The platform enables the government to collect and process data digitally, helping to speed up verification and payment. Under the new system, smaller claims capped at Sh100,000 are being paid through mobile money via M-Pesa.
The Ministry hopes that digitising the process will not only ease the burden on affected families but also improve transparency and efficiency in managing compensation.
The outstanding claims, now standing at over Sh4.16 billion as of February 2023, underline the scale of the problem and the need for lasting solutions to reduce conflict between communities and wildlife.
Kenya continues to struggle with human-wildlife conflict in areas bordering national parks and reserves, where wild animals often cross into human settlements. The situation has left many families grieving or grappling with the loss of livestock and crops, prompting them to seek government help.
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