Govt disburses Ksh3.8B to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflicts
The government has disbursed Ksh3.8 billion to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflicts since 2023 to safeguard lives and reinforce national conservation goals.
The government released Ksh908 million to the State Department for Wildlife for payment of HWC compensation in 2023, Ksh960 million in 2024 and Ksh1.95 billion in 2025 amounting to Ksh3.8 billion.
The disbursement represents the single largest amount of money released by the government to pay HWC compensation.
The State Department for Wildlife made the revelations after disbursing Ksh64,120,000 to Kajiado County on Monday, May 12, 2025, during a public engagement forum on Human Wildlife Conflicts (HWC)mitigation and compensation in Isara, Kajiado County.
HWC
Speaking during the forum, KWS Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Board Chairman Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Walter Raria Koipaton emphasised that HWC is a national priority, especially in biodiversity-rich regions like Kajiado, where human settlements intersect with critical wildlife corridors.
He acknowledged the sacrifices made by communities and emphasised the importance of the Amboseli–Kilimanjaro ecosystem in sustaining Kenya’s natural heritage.
“The key HWC hotspots in the country include Taita Taveta, Kajiado, Narok, Laikipia, Meru, Kwale, Baringo (snakes), Kitui and Isiolo,” he stated.
Additionally, he highlighted KWS’s roles in providing comprehensive interventions such as deploying rapid response teams with tracking technology and promoting locally-led measures like predator-proof bomas, translocations, and erection of fences.
He emphasised other interventions like the provision of predator deterrent lights and numerous CSR programs in the community landscapes such as water pans, bursaries for pupils and the construction of classrooms and fencing schools.
On his part, KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga reaffirmed KWS’s commitment to its mandate of conserving and protecting Kenya’s wildlife.
He urged all stakeholders to work together to co-create lasting, inclusive, and community-driven solutions that will secure both human and wildlife well-being.
Digital compensation
This comes a few days after the government unveiled a new digital compensation model designed to ease the burden of human-wildlife conflict on affected communities by streamlining payments, enhancing transparency, and accelerating claim resolution.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano on Friday, May 9, 2025, said the system, already piloted in six counties, leverages real-time data collection, digital verification, and mobile money platforms like M-Pesa to facilitate quicker disbursement, especially for claims below Ksh100,000.
“This marks a new era in compensating communities affected by wildlife. It’s a model rooted in transparency, equity, and powered by technology,” Miano said.
Further, she emphasised the need for timely information and clear communication with the public.
