Gov't requires Ksh.1.2B to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict: KWS

The government will require over Ksh.1.2 billion to compensate 255 families whose kin were killed by wild animals in the country in the last two years.

This is according to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General Dr. Erustus Kanga who spoke during the Second Wildlife Scientific Conference in Lake Naivasha Resort where over 300 scientists converged to discuss the current status in the wildlife sector. 

Kanga noted that the country recorded over 26,000 cases of human-wildlife conflict in the past two years, comprising 255 fatalities and another 725 who were seriously injured.

Further, he pointed out that over 5,200 livestock were killed by wild animals, adding that there was a need to engage the community in addressing the crisis.

His sentiments were echoed by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei who pointed out the worrying surge in challenges facing wildlife conservation. 

Koskei called on the scientists to up their game through research to deal with majority of the challenges such as loss of habitat, closure of wildlife corridors and poaching. 

“The resources are limited. Whatever little we have, we share to all sectors. We are very keen to enhance the budget to research, right from research institutions, universities," he stated. 

"We are progressively increasing the budget so that we have adequate information in terms of data to enable us make decisions correctly and policies that are aligned to the progression of conservation of our planet."

On her part, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano stated that the government was working on a policy to introduce a wildlife regulator in the country to improve conservation.