Hope for victims as wildlife conflict compensation campaign begins

The State Department of Tourism and Wildlife has launched a campaign to transform management of human-wildlife conflict in seven counties.

The campaign is meant to enhance compensation transparency, empowering communities with sustainable livelihoods, and also strengthen policy and legal frameworks within the counties.

Through data- driven storytelling, digital innovations, and high-level advocacy, Kenya Wildlife Services and the Ministry of Wildlife & Tourism will foster human-wildlife co-existence while safeguarding Kenya’s wildlife heritage.

Principal Secretary at the State Department of Wildlife, Silvia Museiya, said the campaign will showcase compensation payouts and tech-driven mitigation solutions such as drones, bio-fences, MPESA payments.

''The one-month-long nationwide campaign that will culminate in the National Compensation Funds Payment Launch will be presided over by President William Ruto at Meru County on May 26, 2025, and will also advocate policy and legal reforms and increased Treasury funding through stakeholder dialogue with Members of Parliament and government officials'' said Museiya.

She was speaking at Isara Kajiado county on Monday, during an event to compensate victims of human wildlife conflict.

She said the integrated campaign will educate communities on Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) mitigation and compensation processes, including the implementation of a new digital claims system.

It will also highlight wildlife economy opportunities (wildlife species allowed for farming, bee-keeping, Eco-tourism enterprises) to reduce dependency on compensation payouts.

''As a ministry, we will also strengthen community-Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) collaboration in human-wildlife conflict reporting and management using KWS toll-free line, digital tools, rapid-response units and the comparison of Kenya’s compensation scheme in relation to neighboring countries and other Nations,'' she said.

The campaign commenced at Kajiado and will be followed by Laikipia, Narok, Makueni, Kwale, Taita Taveta and finally Meru counties.

''As we organized meetings and public fora in the counties with KWS officers and partners, we will also be working on strengthening the Conservation Trust Fund as a vehicle to mobilize resources from the private sector, NGOs and all beneficiaries of wildlife resources to contribute towards conservation efforts, including compensation," PS said.

Kajiado East Member of Parliament Kakute MaiMai who hosted the delegation noted that Conflicts between people and wildlife rank amongst the main threats to conservation in Kenya.

''In Kenya, with between 65-70 per cent of wildlife residing outside Protected Areas, one of the critical challenges to conservation is how to enhance and sustain coexistence between people and wildlife,'' said MaiMai.

He said he was moved to action after interacting with the victims. He applauded the government for taking a step ahead by compensating the residents.

''It indeed moved my heart when I interacted with claimants who wore hopeful faces denoting the big relief they received after years of waiting. The field interactions revealed that communities want a faster and efficient compensation payment that is timely,'' said MaiMai.

''While we expressed the need to ensure adequate and effective mitigation measures to avert conflicts, we need to assure the victims of the unwavering commitment to clear all the outstanding compensation bill,'' he added.

Cheques worth Sh64,126,000 were distributed across the entire County.

Others who attended the event were Parashina Sakimba (MP - Kajiado South), Peris Tobiko (Nominated Senator) area MCA among other leaders.