HOLA, Kenya — At least 225 victims of human-wildlife conflict in Tana River County have received Sh172 million in compensation from the Kenya Wildlife Service under a government programme aimed at easing losses caused by wildlife attacks and destruction.
The compensation, processed between 2024 and 2026, was issued during a ceremony held in Hola and presided over by John Chumo, the Conservation Secretary in the State Department for Wildlife under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
Dr Chumo said the payments covered claims dating back nearly 10 years, with additional unresolved cases still pending.
The compensation scheme caters for deaths, injuries, crop destruction, and property damage resulting from human-wildlife conflict, a recurring challenge in Tana River, where wild animals frequently stray into villages searching for water and pasture.
“The compensation scheme with compassion and empathy seeks to alleviate the cost of coexistence between communities and wildlife,” Chumo said.
According to the Wildlife Conservation and Management framework, compensation claims can reach up to Sh5 million for loss of life and Sh3 million for injuries sustained during wildlife attacks.
The government earlier this year released Sh950 million for compensation claims across the country, with officials saying more than Sh1 billion has now been set aside to address growing cases of human-wildlife conflict nationwide.
Chumo announced that the government is introducing a new digital compensation system aimed at reducing delays that have frustrated victims for years.
“The new digital system has already been piloted in six hotspot counties and would soon be rolled out nationally,” he said.
He added that the platform is expected to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and allow compensation claims to be settled within three months, compared to the current delays that can stretch for years.
Victims are required to report incidents to KWS within 24 hours to initiate the compensation process.
Tana River remains one of Kenya’s major human-wildlife conflict hotspots due to its proximity to Tsavo East National Park and wildlife migratory routes that cut across settlements and farmland.
Dr Chumo said climate change, shrinking wildlife habitats, and encroachment into migratory corridors have intensified conflicts between communities and wild animals.
“Communities also need to open up wildlife migratory corridors to minimize human wildlife interactions,” he said.
He noted that the government is implementing several interventions to reduce attacks, including the installation of electric fences in hotspot areas such as Garsen, Kipini, and Bura, strengthening KWS rapid response units, and promoting community conservancies.
The Conservation Secretary also urged county governments to align land-use planning with wildlife conservation priorities.
Danson Mungatana, who accompanied Chumo during the event, criticised the lengthy delays in processing compensation claims and called for urgent reforms.
“It’s not fair to delay the compensation process because, as it is now, it takes up to 10 years for victims of wildlife conflict to be compensated,” Mungatana said.
The senator noted that many affected families continue to suffer economically while waiting for compensation, despite enduring deaths, injuries, and destruction caused by wildlife.
