Game parks to be fenced off to avert conflict – CS

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano now says the government is committed towards fencing most game parks and reserves to avert cases of human-wildlife conflict that may occur especially during the current dry season.

Miano was reacting to reports that three people lost their lives after they were attacked by elephants in Narok, Kitui and Laikipia counties. She said her ministry was working tirelessly hard to address the issue by putting the necessary measures in place.

“We have received three tragic reports of people being killed by elephants. Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is on high alert to ensure that these cases don’t occur again. We are putting all effort to ensure co- existence between human and wildlife,” said Miano.

For the Kitui case, the CS revealed that a team of rangers from KWS has already been dispatched to monitor the elephants’ movements while in Laikipia, the community will be engaged to unlock the stalemate that has hindered the construction of the perimeter fence.

Last year, Miano spearheaded an ambitious exercise to address cases of the human-wildlife conflict. President William Ruto had also allocated Sh51 million as compensation for such, during pass-out of KWS graduate rangers at Manyani.

Consistent compensation

“The President has made it clear to us as a ministry that communities and the people of Kenya are at the centre of the government’s mandate. We are here to compensate the victims,” Miano said.

She added that they were also coming up with many proposals on how to raise funds so that compensation becomes consistent and sustainable.

In an effort to make compensation more responsive to the extent of damages caused, the Ministry has also announced an increase in the compensation rates, particularly for elephant-related incidents. The compensation for elephant attacks has risen from Sh30,000 to a substantial Sh5 million per case.

The compensation scheme, which was initially launched in April 2024 with a budget of Sh960 million, aims to provide financial relief to victims of human-wildlife conflict, including those who have lost loved ones, suffered injuries, or had their property or crops destroyed.