Kenya is finally set to disburse Ksh3.8 billion ($30 million) as compensation to victims of human-wildlife throughout the country following month of blame-shifting, the ministry of wildlife and tourism has announced.

Already, State Department for Wildlife has issued compensation cheques worthKsh64.3 million to Kajiado residents affected by human wildlife conflicts.

The Kenya currency exchanged at $1 to 129.50, a rate expected to remain stable over the coming weeks.

Speaking during the handing over of cheques at Isara, Kajiado East Constituency, Principal Secretary for Wildlife Sylvia Museiya said that in the year 2023, the government released Ksh908 million while in 2024 Ksh960 million was released and in 2025 Ksh1.95 billion has been provided for compensating victims of human wildlife conflicts.

While acknowledging that the amount was not enough as the government has a long list of pending bills in respect of compensation of victims, she assured victims of government’s commitment to hasten the process,. In addition to fast tracking payment for those on the pending list saying the funds will still be disbursed in the coming financial year.

Museiya encouraged those who have not yet been compensated to reach out to the department for follow up on their claims, adding that verification of claims was still ongoing. She revealed that the government will soon conduct public fora on biodiversity credits and carbon credits to create awareness as there was a lot of confusion regarding the same.

Director General Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Erustus Kanga acknowledged the sacrifices made by communities in wildlife conservation and emphasised the importance of the Amboseli-Kilimanjaro ecosystem in sustaining Kenya’s natural heritage.

Kanga observed that lions, hyenas and elephants are the main wildlife species that human-wildlife conflicts in Kajiado and they were working on measures to curb the attacks.

“KWS has been providing comprehensive interventions such as deploying rapid response teams with tracking technology, promoting locally-led measures like predator-proof bomas, translocations, erection of fences, provision of predator deterrent lights and numerous corporate social responsibility programmes in the community landscapes such as water pans, water tanks, bursaries for pupils and construction of class rooms and fencing schools,” he said.

He appealed to affected communities to be patient even as the government continued to upscale the amount allocated for compensation to cover all victims. The director further revealed that the compensation was being done partially as recommended by parliament.

“If it is death victims, we find a formula where all of them are paid. For example, 30 or 40 per cent of the Ksh5 million and the same happens to all the other victims. By this we ensure that everyone is being compensated at the same time though in bits,” he said.

Kajiado East Member of Parliament Kakuta Ole Maimai expressed gratitude to the government for the compensation terming it as a reprieve to the victims. Ole Maimai, however, called for further action to be taken by KWS as cases of human wildlife conflicts have been on the rise in the area affecting livelihoods yet compensation takes years.

“Even as I urge my constituents to conserve wildlife, we want faster, timely and more efficient compensation payment as we coexist with wildlife. We also want our youth to be recruited as community rangers,” Ole Maimai said.

One of the victims, Peter Kilukei, who hails from Ilkelunyeti, was trampled upon by an elephant in 2016 said that he was thankful for the compensation as he would use it to open his own business. Kilukei however urged the government to speed up the compensation to avert retaliatory attacks by the community.

The key human wildlife conflict hotspots in Kenya include Taita Taveta, Kajiado, Narok, Laikipia, Meru, Kwale, Baringo, Kitui and Isiolo.

Sixty-five to seventy per cent of wildlife in Kenya reside outside protected areas and enhancing sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife has been one of the critical challenges to conservation.

For deaths due to wildlife attack, the government compensates Ksh5 million while an injury of a victim is compensated with Ksh3 million and livestock predation, crop destruction and property damages are compensated based on validation by agricultural and livestock officers.

The list of all compensated victims is currently available on the ministry’s website for perusal.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Diana Meneto

The Principal Secretary for Wildlife, Sylvia Museiya addressing the public at Isara, Kajiado East Constituency during the compensation of human wildlife victims event.

The Principal Secretary for Wildlife, Sylvia Museiya and Kajiado East Member of Parliament Kakuta Maimai issue a cheque to one of the victims of human wildlife conflict in Isara, Kajiado East Constituency.

Compensated victims of human wildlife conflicts pose for a photo with The Principal Secretary for Wildlife, Sylvia Museiya during the compensation of human wildlife victims event at Isara, Kajiado East Constituency.

Director General KWS Prof Erustus Kanga, addressing the public at Isara, Kajiado East Constituency during the compensation of human wildlife victims event.