Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife Reaffirms Commitment to Compensate Human-Wildlife Conflict Victims
Hon CS Rebecca Miano EGH (right) with KWS Director General Dr Erustus Kanga
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife has reaffirmed its commitment to compensating victims of human-wildlife conflict across Kenya, following the verification of claimants. This follows a significant move by President William Ruto, who presented a Ksh 51 million cheque to Taita Taveta County during the graduation ceremony of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers at the Law Enforcement Academy in Manyani.
Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano emphasized that the ministry is working closely with local communities to ensure that victims of wildlife conflict receive timely and fair compensation. “The President has made it clear that communities and the people of Kenya are at the center of our government’s mandate to compensate the victims,” Miano stated.
To streamline the process, the ministry has implemented a new digital system to verify claims and ensure that only legitimate cases are compensated. The system aims to improve efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness in processing claims, according to Miano. “We are excited that we now have a digital system in place, which will minimize fraudulent claims,” she added.
Additionally, Miano noted the establishment of Community Wildlife Conservation Committees (CWCCs) across the country, including new committees in Western Kenya and in Nairobi, Kajiado, and Kiambu counties. These committees have been trained and equipped with the necessary information to verify cases of human-wildlife conflict before compensation can proceed.
The Ministry is also working with the National Treasury to ensure that adequate funds are available for compensation. Miano further revealed that the compensation rate for elephant attacks has been significantly increased from Ksh 30,000 to Ksh 5 million.
“We are actively exploring proposals to raise funds, ensuring that the compensation process is sustainable and consistent,” Miano concluded.
The government’s efforts are part of a broader initiative to address the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict, which has caused significant loss and hardship in many communities across the country. With the new systems in place, the Ministry is optimistic that the compensation process will be more transparent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of affected individuals.
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