The Kenyan government has disclosed a staggering compensation bill of over KSh 1.2 billion for families of 255 individuals killed by wild animals in the past two years, highlighting a severe and escalating human-wildlife crisis.
The revelation was made by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General, Dr. Erustus Kanga, during the Second Wildlife Scientific Conference at Lake Naivasha Resort. The conference brought together over 300 scientists to address critical challenges in the wildlife sector.
Dr. Kanga presented sobering statistics, noting that the country recorded more than 26,000 cases of human-wildlife conflict between 2022 and 2024.
The incidents resulted in 255 fatalities and left 725 people with serious injuries. Further underscoring the economic impact on communities, he pointed out that over 5,200 livestock were killed by wild animals in the same period.
The crisis has prompted high-level government concern. Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, echoed Dr. Kanga’s sentiments, describing the surge in conflicts as “worrying.” He challenged the scientific community to intensify research efforts to tackle root causes such as habitat loss, the blockage of vital wildlife corridors, and persistent poaching.
“Resources are limited. Whatever little we have, we share across all sectors. We are very keen to enhance the budget for research, right from research institutions and universities,” Koskei stated. Emphasizing the government’s commitment, he added, “We are progressively increasing the budget so that we have adequate information in terms of data to enable us to make correct decisions and policies that are aligned to the conservation of our planet.”
In a parallel move to strengthen conservation governance, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano announced that the government is developing a policy to introduce a dedicated wildlife regulator. This initiative aims to improve the overall framework for conservation management in the country.
The conference has positioned scientific research as a cornerstone for future policy. With compensation claims soaring and conflict on the rise, the government is under pressure to find a sustainable balance between protecting its world-renowned wildlife heritage and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of its citizens.
The commitment to increased funding for research signals a recognition that data-driven strategies are essential to navigating this complex challenge.
