Residents hope wildlife conflict and payouts will soon be settled

As Kenyans prepare to welcome the new year, dozens of wildlife attack victims in Taita Taveta County have yet to be compensated. Despite the government's announcement in September 2022 that the National Treasury had released Sh200 million for compensation, this remains the case.

Relatives of 16 victims killed by wild animals, those injured, and farmers whose crops were destroyed by marauding wild animals between 2014 and 2021 are among those who have yet to benefit from the funds. County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara said in September that relatives of people killed by wildlife would be paid Sh5 million each; those injured would be paid between Sh50,000 and Sh 1 million, depending on the severity of the injury and the recommendations of a medical doctor. Malonza said the government, through KWS, has built at least 12 water pans in wildlife hotspot areas throughout the county.

The CS said the government will build an additional 12 water pans in the park. To mitigate the effects of drought, the government is also planting more than 200,000 trees in Tsavo, as well as rehabilitating and expanding Aruda Dam, a key wildlife water source that dried up. Human-wildlife conflict was the order of the day, according to local residents and leaders, as marauding wild animals, particularly elephants and lions, broke out of Tsavo and raided people's settlement areas in search of water and food.

Residents killed

In the process, stray animals killed people and livestock, destroyed houses and water tanks, and restricted people's movement. In one of the wildlife attacks, a pride of lions raided villages on the outskirts of Voi town and slaughtered 133 goats and sheep, costing more than Sh1 million.

Governor Andrew Mwadime said human-wildlife conflict is still a major issue in the county. He said the local community had suffered as a result of a lack of compensation for deaths, injuries, and crop destruction caused by marauding wild animals that frequented settlement areas.

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