Human-wildlife conflict victims paid Sh2.8billion in two years, Conservancy Secretary Chumo claim
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting at Mangu High School, Chumo said each year, the government disburses close to Sh1billion to victims, with Sh950million so far disbursed this year
Victims of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) have been paid over Sh2.8billion as compensation, Conservation Secretary, State Department for Wildlife John Chumo has said.
Chumo explained that the drive has seen the pending bills reduce from Sh4.1billion inherited two years ago to about Sh2.3billion currently, hence easing years of pain and anguish for victims and their families.
Speaking during a stakeholders meeting at Mangu High School, Chumo said each year, the government disburses close to Sh1billion to victims, with Sh950million so far disbursed this year.
“We intend to boost the settlements in the coming years to fully clear all the pending bills. This aggressive compensation drive can be attributed to a well streamlined data based or victims, and the government’s goodwill to the victims.,” Chumo added.
The official said since the Kenya Kwanza administration took over, there has been rigorous compensation efforts to human-wildlife conflict victims, noting that two years ago the pending bills were Sh4.1 billion.
“Several victims were suffering due to compensation delays. After establishing a streamlined database of victims, we have paid Sh2.8billion in the last two years. Going forward, we hope the amount will be boosted to target more beneficiaries,” he the official stated.
Noting that compensation cannot be enough, Chumo said the State Department has also embarked on mitigation measures to curb human wildlife conflict including fencing of game parks and game reserves.
Other measures, he said, are building of water pans and boreholes at the animal habitats to ensure the wildlife do not come out in search of water in areas where people reside.
This comes even as the government unveiled a new, technology-driven model to compensate victims of human wildlife conflict to replace outdated manual systems in a more aimed at enhancing transparency.
Through the system small claims are processed using Mpesa making it fast and efficient.
According to data from the State Department, over 57,000 HWC incidents were reported nationally from 2009 to 2024.
The data further indicates that snake bites, marauding hyena, crocodiles and hippo attacks and crop damages by elephants as among the common human-wildlife conflict cases reported in the country.
