Ruto unveils Sh950 million compensation for human-wildlife conflict victims

President William Ruto on Monday unveiled a Sh950 million compensation package for victims of human-wildlife conflict, marking the third phase of payments in this financial year.

Speaking at Meru National Park, President Ruto highlighted the government's efforts to improve the compensation process to ensure quicker and more efficient payments to those affected by wildlife-related conflicts.

He also revealed that the government has increased budget allocations to clear existing claims and meet current demands, noting that in the past two years, a total of Sh2.8 billion was disbursed to victims, surpassing the Sh2.7 billion paid over nearly a decade between 2013 and 2022.

"We want to ensure Kenyans are paid within the shortest time possible. This is why we have migrated the scheme from a manual to a digital platform," he said.

To streamline compensation claims, President Ruto announced that all loss reports related to human-wildlife conflict must be completed within 90 days.

Further, he urged relevant authorities to ensure that victims receive payments within four months, reflecting the government's commitment to responsive service.

"Government should work towards ensuring that we pay the victims of human-wildlife conflict within four months," said Ruto.

Stressing the importance of wildlife conservation, the President said Kenyans should benefit from wildlife resources, which would foster greater community participation in conservation initiatives.

This message was reinforced with the launch of the Wildlife Conservation Prepaid Card, a first-of-its-kind financial product developed in partnership with KCB Bank.

The card allows users to contribute towards conservation through everyday transactions, with different card types donating fixed amounts per purchase to the Wildlife Trust Fund.

It is available in three tiers: Elephant, Lion, and Cheetah, donating Sh10, Sh5 and Sh3 for each purchase, respectively.

President Ruto also highlighted significant investments in wildlife protection, including the recruitment of 1,500 new game rangers and the procurement of 100 vehicles in 2024 to enhance park management and reduce conflicts.

He added that digitisation of park fees has increased transparency and revenue collection, rising from Sh5.3 billion two years ago to Sh7.5 billion in 2025.

In a bid to physically mitigate human-wildlife encounters, Ruto announced that the government has extended wildlife fencing by 200 kilometres and is seeking additional funds to fence Meru National Park.

Furthermore, a Sh250 million allocation has been set aside to renovate the Meru Mulika Airstrip, which is expected to boost tourism and economic activity in the region.

Other Topics To Read

• National
• President William Ruto
• Human-wildlife conflict
• Ruto unveils Sh950 million compensation for human-wildlife conflict victims
• Headlines