CS Miano: Animal attack victims to receive Sh1bn as compensation
CS Miano: Animal attack victims to receive Sh1bn as compensation
Florah Koech, Nation Media Group
March 4, 2025
The government has set aside more than Sh1 billion this year to compensate
victims of human-wildlife conflicts.
In 2023 and 2024, the government spent Sh966 million and another Sh908
million on pending claims dating back from 2013, Tourism Cabinet Secretary
Rebecca Miano said on Monday.
Speaking when officiating the World Wildlife Day at Lake Bogoria in Baringo
South, CS Miano noted that the government has scaled up efforts to
compensate human-wildlife conflict victims in a fair and timely manner
supported by a more efficient digital system.
Baringo is among the pilot counties where victims can now receive
compensation within 90 days of lodging claims.
The intervention, according to the CS, is a crucial step toward fostering
co-existence between people and wildlife, while ensuring sustainable
conservation practices.
“Conservation remains a shared responsibility requiring all hands on deck
if we are to create a legacy of resilient ecosystems, thriving communities,
and sustainable economic growth,” she said.
This year’s theme is ‘Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People
and Planet,’ which the CS said is a call for sustainable and
non-conventional funding mechanisms to support conservation.
The government is also encouraging public-private partnerships and seeking
investors in conservation projects to enhance financial sustainability, as
well as adopting carbon credits and biodiversity offsetting by encouraging
industries to contribute to conservation through responsible financing.
“We are also imposing payments for ecosystem services through ensuring
communities benefit from conservation by incentivising sustainable land use
and establishing eco-tourism and conservation enterprises to support
nature-based tourism and local enterprises that generate revenue for
conservation and local livelihoods,” she said.
“Kenya recognises that beyond protecting animals, conservation is about
securing the future of our people, our environment, and our economy.
Through initiatives such as the Kenya Wildlife Protection and Biodiversity
Strategy, the National Wildlife Strategy (2018-2030), and innovative
conservation finance mechanisms, we are systematically aligning our efforts
with global best practices,” she stated.
The CS added that the government is also integrating conservation into
climate resilience, community empowerment, and national economic planning.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General Erastus Kanga said ecotourism
projects exemplify how conservation can generate economic benefits while
protecting biodiversity.
“Investing in community-led ecotourism initiatives creates sustainable
livelihoods while preserving wildlife habitats.
“Youth and women are key drivers of our conservation efforts. Their
inclusion ensures that our initiatives are inclusive, sustainable and
impactful,” he said, noting that partners like the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya
engage young people in conservation activities, while women-led bee-keeping
cooperatives provide sustainable livelihoods and promote biodiversity
conservation.
“These initiatives not only empower communities but also foster a sense of
ownership and responsibility toward our natural resources,” said Prof Kanga.
However, he cited human-wildlife conflict as a major setback to wildlife
conservation, raising concern that it endangers both wildlife and human
communities.
Elephant Translocations
To address the conflicts, he said, KWS has implemented several
interventions, including infrastructure support by constructing classrooms
in conflict-prone areas to increase access to education.
Prof Kanga added that over 122km of fences have been constructed in
national and game reserves, with an additional 71km rehabilitated to reduce
human-wildlife conflicts.
“Through use of technology, we have also set up predator deterrent lights
and facilitated elephant translocations.”
Prof Kanga added that aloe farming in Baringo, Laikipia, Taita Taveta,
among others provides a national model for conservation and utilisation of
regulated plants.
“The cultivation of drought-resistant aloe plants not only restores
degraded lands but also creates habitats for pollinators, supporting
Kenya’s national development strategies. This initiative, coupled with
technology transfer and local value addition for pharmaceutical and
cosmetic uses, demonstrates how conservation can drive sustainable
development,” he stated.
Despite the achievements, Prof Kanga noted that they face significant
challenges, including inadequate funding for endangered species recovery
plans, protected area management, and research programmes.
He called for increased investment in conservation financing, partnerships
with county governments, and enhanced collaboration with local communities
and stakeholders, highlighting the need for modernisation of parks to
enhance visitor experiences and revenue generation.
Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi said the region has made significant
strides in advancing community-led conservation through its network of
conservancies that function as essential wildlife corridors while creating
economic opportunities for local communities.
He said the 16 active conservancies in the county including Kiborgoch,
Chuine, Irong, Tuiarus and Ruko play a vital role in safeguarding
endangered species such as the greater Kudu, giant ground Pangolin,
Rothschild’s Giraffe, and Patas Monkey. He added that the conservancies
also promote ecotourism and foster local enterprise development.
“Additionally, our 14 sites, including Lake Bogoria, Lake Baringo, Tugen
Hills, and the Kerio Valley Escarpment, are not just geological wonders but
also biodiversity hotspots that support both wildlife conservation and
sustainable tourism. Through the Baringo Great Rift Valley Geopark, we have
an opportunity to integrate conservation with geotourism, research, and
community development,” said Governor Cheboi.
“As a county government, we recognise that investing in wildlife and
natural resources is not just about protecting species, it is about
securing livelihoods, boosting tourism and fostering resilience against
climate change,” he added.
To achieve this, he said, they are working closely with the national
government, private investors, development partners, and conservation
organisations to establish sustainable financing models, including
community conservation funds to empower local communities in wildlife
protection.
“We are providing community conservation funds to empower local communities
in wildlife protection and also reward communities for conservation
efforts,” he said, calling on residents to embrace conservation as a means
of securing their future.