Kenya Rolls Out Digital Compensation System for Victims of Human-Wildlife Conflict
- In 2024, President William Ruto announced an increase in the compensation package for victims of human-wildlife conflict
- Tourism Cabinet Secretary (CS) Rebecca Miano has launched a new digital compensation system for faster payments
- Miano said the system has already been tested in six counties and has proven to accelerate the compensation of claims
Victims of human-wildlife conflict in Kenya will now receive compensation on time.
Source: Twitter
The government has launched a new technology-driven compensation model that promises faster payouts and greater transparency.
Payment of human-wildlife conflict victims
Speaking during the unveiling of the system on Wednesday, May 7, Tourism Cabinet Secretary (CS) Rebecca Miano said the system marks a major policy shift in how the state handles claims from victims of wildlife-related injuries, deaths, and property loss.
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“This is not just an upgrade in how we process claims. It is a statement that the government sees, hears, and stands with those living at the frontline of conservation,” said Miano.
The move comes amid rising tensions in wildlife-rich regions, where locals often suffer silently as conservation efforts thrive.
Miano revealed that the system has already been piloted in six counties and accelerates compensation by streamlining claim verification and payment through real-time data and mobile money services such as M-Pesa for smaller claims.
So far, KSh 10 million has been disbursed through the system, with 804 additional cases queued for payment.
"This drive is a reaffirmation of our unwavering commitment to fairness, justice and deep collaboration with counties as we shift the national conversation from conflict to coexistence," the CS said.
The initiative also revives Community Wildlife Compensation Committees (CWCCs), shifting more decision-making power to the grassroots.
Source: Twitter
Human-wildlife conflict claims
By involving local representatives in verifying claims, the ministry hopes to curb delays, eliminate corruption, and make the process more responsive to the realities on the ground.
With over 20,000 pending claims and a backlog of Ksh 1.36 billion, the scale of unmet need is vast. Human-wildlife conflict incidents peaked at 8,272 in 2023, further underscoring the urgency of reform.
The government launched a nationwide awareness drive culminating in a major compensation event in Meru County on May 26.
“This is a shared story—of loss, resilience, and the hope for coexistence. We cannot do it alone. A future where conservation honours both people and wildlife is not just possible, it has began," said Miano.
What Ruto said about human-wildlife conflict claims
President William Ruto's administration had promised to fast-track the compensation of human-wildlife conflict victims.
In 2024, the head of state announced an increase in the compensation package from KSh 200,000 to KSh 5 million for victims of fatal attacks.
Ruto said other animal attack victims will receive a compensation package ranging from KSh 2 million to KSh 4 million, based on the severity of the injury.
The president said this during the commissioning of the Lariak Forest Wildlife Electric Fence and the launch of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Compensation Scheme in Rumuruti, Laikipia county.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
