President William Ruto recently inaugurated a compensation program aimed at aiding victims of wildlife attacks in rebuilding their lives and covering substantial medical expenses. This initiative, launched in Laikipia on a recent Friday, is designed to cultivate a peaceful coexistence between local populations and wildlife.
Ruto emphasized that the human-wildlife conflict mitigation and compensation program is pivotal for fostering harmony between communities and wild animals. Under this scheme, individuals subjected to wildlife attacks will receive compensation of up to $23,543. Concurrently, the government is investing in various measures such as electric fencing, community-driven advocacy, and advanced surveillance technology to curtail human-wildlife conflicts.
“We are committed to prioritizing the welfare of individuals impacted by human-wildlife conflicts through expedited compensation,” Ruto affirmed. This compensation package will encompass injuries, fatalities, as well as damages to crops and property.
In a bid to alleviate human-wildlife conflicts, Ruto outlined plans for the erection of 350 kilometers of electric fencing in hotspot areas across the country. Moreover, communities will be incentivized to safeguard endangered species.
Highlighting the magnitude of the issue, Ruto revealed that the Kenya Wildlife Service has received 17,000 compensation claims amounting to 7 billion Kenyan shillings. Since 2014, approximately 10,000 claims, totaling $31.3 million, have been successfully processed. He further pledged to resolve the remaining 7,000 outstanding claims within the next two months.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua underscored the role of digital tools in streamlining the identification and compensation process for wildlife attack victims, thereby averting protracted legal battles. Mutua also emphasized the government’s commitment to investing in livelihood enhancement projects such as water infrastructure, boreholes, and climate-smart agriculture to incentivize communities living near wildlife reserves to actively participate in the conservation efforts aimed at protecting endangered species.
