Relief for human-wildlife conflict victims as government starts compensation
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
The compensation initiative is a result of extensive verification work done by the Ministry, ensuring that only legitimate claimants benefit from the funds.
Victims of human-wildlife conflict across Kenya are set to receive much-needed relief as the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife gears up to begin compensating those affected.
This follows a Sh51 million allocation from President William Ruto during the pass-out ceremony for Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers at the Law Enforcement Academy in Manyani.
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Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano has reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to fulfilling its promise of compensation, stressing that the government was determined to ensure a swift and organised process.
"The President has made it clear to us as a Ministry that communities and the people of Kenya are at the centre of the government's mandate. We are here to compensate the victims," Miano said.
The compensation initiative is a result of extensive verification work done by the Ministry, ensuring that only legitimate claimants benefit from the funds.
The process will be handled with the help of Community Wildlife Conservation Committees (CWCCs), which have been trained to use a newly launched digital system.
This system aims to increase efficiency and accuracy in the compensation process while reducing fraudulent claims. "The system will minimise cases that are not genuine," Miano explained.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to address human-wildlife conflicts, which have caused significant harm to local communities in regions affected by wildlife activity.
The government has already begun the process of verifying claims in counties such as Taita Taveta, Laikipia, and parts of Western Kenya.
In addition, three new committees have been formed in Nairobi, Kajiado, and Kiambu to continue verifying and processing compensation claims.
"With the help of the National Treasury, we are working to ensure the funds are available for the compensation," Miano said.
"We are also coming up with many proposals on how to raise funds so that the compensation becomes consistent and sustainable," she added.
In an effort to make compensation more responsive to the extent of damages caused, the Ministry has also announced an increase in the compensation rates, particularly for elephant-related incidents.
The compensation for elephant attacks has risen from Sh30,000 to a substantial Sh5 million per case.
The compensation scheme, which was initially launched in April 2024 with a budget of Sh960 million, aims to provide financial relief to victims of human-wildlife conflict, including those who have lost loved ones, suffered injuries, or had their property or crops destroyed.
In April this year, President Ruto revealed that the government had already paid out Sh4 billion to 10,000 beneficiaries for claims verified between 2014 and 2023. The remaining 7,000 cases, valued at Sh3 billion, are expected to be settled within the next 60 days.
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