In a bid to address the increasing incidents of human-wildlife conflict in Kenya, the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage has launched the payment of Kshs. 958 million towards human-wildlife compensation.
This compensation aims to provide relief to individuals affected by wildlife-related deaths, injuries, and property destruction.
“This is in line with the government’s commitment to clear outstanding claims worth Ksh.2.8 billion owed to affected members of communities residing near wildlife conservation areas. The government of Kenya is cognisant of HWC as a serious wildlife conservation challenge and has dedicated significant resources to developing programs, partnerships, and policies to effectively manage it,” Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza said on Thursday.
The launch ceremony took place in Taita Taveta County, which has experienced numerous cases of human-wildlife conflict due to the prolonged drought and the competition for limited resources such as land, water, and browse between the local communities, livestock, and wildlife.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General emphasized the urgent need to address human-wildlife conflict.
He stated that this issue poses a significant threat to both the livelihoods of local communities and the conservation of Kenya’s rich wildlife.
