Communities in Kilifi County have finally received long-overdue compensation worth KES60 million for deadly encounters with wildlife — nearly a decade after the first claims were filed.

The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife disbursed the funds to victims' families in high-risk areas such as Ganze, Magarini, and Vitengeni, where elephants and buffaloes have been responsible for dozens of human fatalities between 2014 and October 2020.

The event, held in Marafa, was presided over by Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, alongside KWS Board Chair Walter Raria Koipaton and Director General Erustus Kanga.

“While wildlife is a treasured gift to our nation, we must take proactive measures to prevent these adverse interactions. We are working to ensure animals remain within designated habitats, allowing residents to farm and conduct business without fear,” said CS Miano.

Miano noted that the compensation was not a goodwill gesture but a right under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act. Furthermore, Kilifi County has reported over 1,300 human–wildlife conflict cases since 2021 and the payment represents just a part of the ongoing effort by the government to compensate the affected families in Kenya.

"Nationwide, the current administration has already disbursed KES 2.8 billion in compensation, with an additional KES1.36 billion under processing - a demonstration of sustained government goodwill to ease the burden on affected communities,” added the CS.

To the families of the casualties, the payout was like a silver lining in their dark cloud. It brought them bittersweet relief.

“My father was trampled by an elephant in 2017 while returning home from the farm. We have waited years for this compensation. It won’t bring him back, but it will ease the burden left behind,” said a resident.

However, some pointed out that it took too long, a challenge that was attributed to delays in processing claims. “We lost my brother in 2016 to a buffalo attack. It took nearly eight years for this money to come. Most of us had given up hope,” said Joseph Kazungu.

The CS also announced a six-pillar prevention strategy that includes corridor fencing, modern early warning systems, and enhanced ranger presence, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to uplifting the community through Corporate Social Investment projects such as building classrooms, distributing water tanks, and supporting local development.

Prof Kanga acknowledged the emotional and financial toll such losses bring and informed the public that a Problem Animal Management Unit (PAMU) is now stationed in Kilifi to respond more swiftly to conflict reports and prevent future tragedies.

KWS Board Chairman Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Walter Koipaton reinforced the Board’s pledge to guide KWS towards becoming a more community-oriented, solution-driven institution anchored in transparency, partnership, and innovation.

He assured the community that the Board is actively engaged in reviewing and supporting stronger measures to protect both people and wildlife, adding that inclusive, people-led conservation remains central to KWS’s mission.

These interventions, anchored in the KWS Strategic Plan 2024–2028 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, reflect a shared vision: a future where communities and wildlife not only coexist, but flourish together in safety, harmony, and mutual benefit.

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