Marsabit National Park, six families have received compensation after their relatives were injured and killed by wild animals. Photo: Marsabit County Government X.
Six Families in Marsabit on June, Tuesday 3, received compensation from the Kenya Wildlife Services( KWS), after their relatives were attacked and killed by wild animals.
According to North Eastern Wildlife Services Agency Assistant Director Bakari Chongwa, the process is in the final stage of installment, after two instalments were made earlier, for families whose relatives were killed in a human- wild conflict.
Speaking to the press in his Marsabit office, Chongwa confirmed that during the launch of Human-Wildlife Conflict Compensation Fund last week in Meru by President William Ruto, a bulk payment of KSh 1 billion was paid to the families across the country, whose loved ones were victims of the conflict. In Marsabit, KSh 8.8 million is set to be distributed to six families affected.
“President William Ruto launched the Human-Wildlife Compensation Fund, after statistics of those affected families in the whole country. In Marsabit, we identified six families that were affected and are set to receive KSh 8.8 million. I want to thank the government for factoring in the families,” Chongwa said.
Chongwa further said that the cases of human-wildlife conflict in Marsabit are few, as compared to other regions across the country.
He further added that KWS will continue to protect and give incentives to residents near wildlife parks and conservations, to a kid further encroachment of both animals and humans in their habitat, and also reduce killing of the animals by humans, as they are an important national resource.
“Cases of human-wildlife conflict in Marsabit are vey few as compared to other regions in the country, where we have a good number of these animals like elephants, even those wo have received compensation is low as compared to our neighbours. We are planning on an awareness campaign to educate our people on how they can coexist with these animals with each party being affected. We want to retain these animals as they very important in the economy of the country,” he explained.
During the launch Meru governor Isaac Mutuma, who asked the government to allow residents to milk the elephants, following milk shortage in the area, as a liter of milk in the county is currently retailing at KSh 50-53.
He however acknowledged the ban by the government on the consumption of wildlife meat. Further tickling the crowd, Mutuma pleaded with the government to allow the residents to milk giraffes.
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