The government will compensate more victims of human-wildlife conflict in Taita Taveta.
County commissioner Lyford Kibaara said cases reported between 2021 and 2022 will be compensated to the tune of Sh139 million.
Kibaara said the government is moving with speed to ensure that all reported cases had been evaluated and compensated on time.
“Before the end of this financial year, we expect to get more funds for compensation. That will enable us to clear the backlog,” Kabaara said on Thursday in Mwatate.
The money, Kibaara said, will compensate for 12 deaths caused by wildlife attacks, 838 cases of crop destruction and 155 cases of destruction of property by stray elephants.
He blamed the ravaging drought for escalating the human-wildlife conflict in the region, promising that the state is moving with speed to find a lasting solution.
“Climate change is a global problem that everybody should think of dealing with. It has caused a severe drought that is driving wild animals out of the conservation area,” he said.
Kibaara said cases of human-wildlife conflict had tripled in the last one year, with more cases of destruction of houses, water tanks and crops being on the rise.
This comes even as the Kenya Wildlife Service is working on compensating more than 300 cases of wildlife attacks reported between 2014 and 2021.
A fortnight ago, the government released Sh206 million to compensate for the cases.
Kibaara said victims who are listed for compensation are still presenting their bank details to KWS.
“Those without bank accounts have been asked to open accounts and present their details at KWS so that their cheques can be prepared,” he said.
He said the government has released Sh80 million to pay for deaths reported between 2014 and 2021.
Sixty seven people who were injured as a result of attacks by wild animals will receive Sh5 million while Sh106 million will be paid for 228 cases of crop destruction.
Cases of death of livestock occasioned by wildlife conflict and cases of destruction of property will receive Sh6.7 million and Sh500,310 respectively.
KWS senior assistant director in charge of Tsavo conservation area Kenneth Ochieng said they are collaborating with leaders and other stakeholders to find a way of curtailing the rising cases of human-wildlife conflict.
“We have agreed to walk together with all leaders to ensure that we serve residents better. Top of the agenda is dealing with cases of wildlife conflict,” Ochieng said.
“Leaders and conservations will come up with interventions to mitigate the effects of climate change and save the community from losses caused by wild animals straying out of the park.”
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
