The government has started compensating victims of human-wildlife conflict in Marsabit County.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Upper Eastern Regional Director Gideon Kebati said the government has released Sh34.8 million from 590 cases for the period between 2014 -2018.
He was briefing the press on preparations for the forthcoming International Rangers’ Day where he said the government is committed to compensating the losses caused by human-wildlife conflict.
“The compensation claims comprise two deaths, 36 injuries, 155 crop damage, 11 property destruction, and 345 predation on livestock cases,” he said.
Kebati however said the county wildlife compensation committee was still reviewing 295 cases.
He also thanked communities in the region for helping in the fight against poaching.
Kebati said poaching is no longer a major threat as the communities have also embraced the creation of conservancies.
“The creation of wildlife conservancies on communal lands has not only enabled good use of the rangelands but attracted support from the government and donors,” he said.
Kebati said that efforts were being made to fully rally all residents in Wajir County behind the conservation and protection efforts of the unique giraffe species.
“Wajir County hosts the highest population of the reticulated giraffe at 7,000 in the whole of the country and the Horn of Africa region,” he said.
On August 17, Members of Parliament opened a public inquiry into the widespread cases of human-wildlife conflicts amid reports of unpaid claims in excess of Sh5 billion to the victims.
National Assembly Tourism and Wildlife Committee announced the move following an outcry by the public over the rising cases and non-payment of claims.
“We have stated that we are going to open public inquiry because this problem is affecting nearly everywhere,” chairman Kareke Mbiuki said.
