Laikipia,
Friday, 12 April, 2024
McCreadie Andias
President William Ruto has launched scheme to compensate individuals affected by damages arising from human-wildlife conflict.
The Head of state while Commissioning the Lariak Forest Wildlife Electric Fence in Rumuruti, Laikipia County, said that the compensation claims stood at KSh7 billion in 2022 for the period 2014-2023. The government has since paid KSh4 billion in compensations.
President Ruto added that the remaining KSh3 billion compensation claims will be paid in the next 60 days.
“We are addressing the human-wildlife conflict to enhance tourism and guarantee the coexistence of nature and communities adjacent to our parks” The president noted.
The compensation scheme will cover deaths, injuries, crop destruction, predation and damage of property caused by wild animals in six counties.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife should speed up the verification exercise and work closely with MPs to ensure that the remaining 7,000 families are compensated in the next 60 days,” he said.
During the function, President Ruto presented a cheque of Sh 960 million for victims of human-wildlife conflict across the country.
The president promised a streamlined compensation scheme in the future moving foward.
Ruto noted that the government is committed to work with the private sector including the community in creating sustainable conservation efforts.
“We must involve the people in conservation because citizens being at the core of every plan ensures sustainability,” said President Ruto.
The President announced that the government will erect electric fences 350km-long around national parks and game reserves in six counties with Laikipia County will benefitting from a 100km fence along Lariak Forest Wildlife Conservancy that he earlier commissioned.
During this event, the President unveiled a digitized HWC compensation scheme, a significant component of my ministry’s ongoing endeavours to promote conservation by fostering a balanced coexistence between humans and wildlife.
The president was accompanied by deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, Cabinet Secretary for wildlife and Tourism Dr. Alfred Mutua among other leaders.
