Fast track compensation for victims, KWS urged

Loitoktok Thursday June 15, 2023

by Kimani Tirus/ Stephen Lemein

Kajiado County Commissioner Felix Watakila has urged the Kenya Wildlife Service to fast-track compensation of victims of human-wildlife conflicts.

Mr Watakila challenged KWS and relevant authorities to quicken compensation of genuine cases for the delay might be the cause of the local communities taking revenge when invaded by wildlife.

While addressing the media in Loitoktok on Wednesday, The CC lamented that recently there have been reported rising cases of killing of wildlife adding that since January this year, three elephants and 13 lions have been killed in the county.

However, the county boss warned the local communities against taking the law into their hands by killing the animals, adding that this can land them into conflict with the law.

He said it is against the constitution to kill the animals even if they have invaded their farms advising them to be following the right channels for resolving the human-wildlife conflicts by reporting such invasions to the relevant authorities rather than killing the animals.

The county commissioner warned against killing the animals as a way of revenge for that might lead to no compensation.

He emphasised the importance of wildlife in tourist attractions leading to a boost to the economy and hence killing of the wildlife is retrogressive and detrimental to the economy.

Watakila ordered chiefs to be conducting barazas in their area of jurisdiction to sensitise the residents on the process of compensation for lack of such information that can lead to revenge when invaded.

Senior Warden in charge of Amboseli Ecosystem, Paul Wambi urged the residents to exercise tolerance with wildlife advising them to report immediately when invaded, promising a quick response from KWS.

Wambi attributed the recent rise in animals invading homes for livestock due to the recent drought which made carnivorous animals weak to hunt hence domesticated animals becoming easy prey.

Daniel Kosgei who is in charge of KWS in Kajiado called upon the human-wildlife conflict victims to be a bit patient as they wait for funding from the government to do compensation.

Courtesy ; K. N. A