Meru Governor Urges William Ruto to Let Locals Milk Elephants, Giraffes and Slaughter Them for Meat
- Meru governor Isaac Mutuma stirred controversy after urging President William Ruto to amend Kenyan wildlife laws to allow locals to milk elephants and giraffes and consume wild game meat
- Speaking during the launch of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Compensation Fund Phase III in Meru, Mutuma said locals deserve to benefit directly from wildlife
- Ruto responded by outlining his government's efforts to improve compensation, revealing that over KSh 2.8 billion has been paid out in just two years
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Imagine a Kenya where giraffes are milked and elephants end up on dinner plates.
Source: Twitter
That’s the vision Meru governor Isaac Mutuma shared on Monday, May 26, when he urged President William Ruto to change the wildlife laws and allow locals to milk and even slaughter wild animals for meat.
The governor made the appeal during the launch of the third phase of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Compensation Fund in Meru County.
The high-profile event was attended by Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and Cabinet Secretaries Rebecca Miano (Tourism), Hanna Cheptumo (Gender and Culture), and Geoffrey Ruku (Public Service).
What did Meru governor say about milking elephants?
Mutuma argued that while national parks and tourist attractions like Mount Kenya and Meru National Park generate revenue, the people living near them see little direct benefit.
“Your Excellency, as the people of Meru, we are grateful that God gave us Meru National Park, Mount Kenya and other tourist attractions that benefit both the county and national governments,” he said.
The governor said he had always wondered why their people preferred cows, goats, and sheep, explaining that it was because these animals provided milk for consumption and sale.
He added that he had asked himself why they could not also benefit from elephants, zebras, gazelles, and giraffes.
“We’re asking you to give us permission to start milking elephants and giraffes,” he added, sparking laughter and murmurs in the audience.
The remarks came amid ongoing frustrations in wildlife-adjacent communities, where human-wildlife conflict continues to cause loss of life and livelihood.
Ruto pays KSh 2.8 billion in compensation
In his response, Ruto acknowledged the scale of the problem and highlighted his administration’s reforms to fast-track compensation.
“From 2013 to 2022, KSh 2.7 billion was paid out. But in just the last two years, we’ve paid KSh 2.8 billion,” Ruto said.
Source: Twitter
“Last year, I summoned the relevant ministries and told them the delays must end. We’ve now digitised the entire compensation system to ensure claims are handled quickly. We’ll be paying previous and current victims alike.”
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), under its 2024–2028 Strategic Plan, reported handling 3,857 conflict cases, including 40 deaths, 77 serious injuries, and significant damage to crops and livestock.
Elephant tramples man to death
In a previous story by TUKO.co.ke, a horrifying scene unfolded in the Muliuntuine area of Igembe North, Meru county, when a miraa farmer was attacked and killed by an elephant while working on his farm.
Despite villagers’ frantic efforts to scare the animal away, the elephant remained aggressive and trampled the man, leaving him with fatal injuries.
A video shared online showed the terrifying moment the elephant overpowered the farmer, ignoring the shouts and pleas from onlookers.
Just days later, another fatal attack was reported in Kauka village along the Nyahururu-Rumuruti Road, where 65-year-old Josphat Oruko was killed by an elephant believed to have wandered from Marmanet Forest.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
