MPs urged to review compensation for victims of human-wildlife conflict

Residents of Kajiado County have urged the National Assembly Public Petitions Committee to reevaluate the compensation system for victims of human-wildlife conflict. The committee, chaired by Runyenjes MP Muchangi Karemba, heard testimony from affected individuals who detailed the devastating impacts of wildlife attacks on their lives, livelihoods, and property.

Kajiado West MP George Sunkuiya led the petitioners, who demanded reforms to the compensation framework. They argued that the current system is ineffective, underfunded, bureaucratic, and plagued by lengthy delays. Sunkuiya emphasized the need for compensation rates to reflect the true economic value of losses suffered by affected communities.

The petitioners proposed increasing compensation rates, implementing strict timelines for processing claims, and decentralizing compensation assessment and approval to the county level. Kenny Matampash of Iloodokilani Ward suggested amendments to the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013. The committee also discussed the possibility of fencing wildlife corridors to reduce human-wildlife encounters, but Kajiado West MP George Sunkuiya cautioned against extensive fencing due to the interconnected nature of the ecosystem and the movement of animals across borders.

The committee members recognized that timely compensation could improve relations between local communities and conservation agencies while ensuring that residents do not bear the full cost of wildlife conservation.