NAIROBI, Kenya, May 8 — Kenya is grappling with a Sh1.36 billion ($10.5 million) funding gap for compensating victims of human-wildlife conflict, as the government rolls out a 19-day national awareness campaign to mobilize resources.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said Wednesday the campaign will target wildlife conflict hotspots such as Laikipia, Narok, Taita Taveta, Kajiado, and Samburu counties, where the bulk of the 20,000 pending claims have been filed.
“Kenya recorded 7,883 cases of human-wildlife conflict in 2024 alone, with elephants accounting for the majority of incidents,” said Miano during a press briefing in Nairobi.
She emphasized the urgent need to establish a dedicated Human-Wildlife Conflict Fund to ensure timely compensation and support preventive initiatives in affected regions.
The government’s compensation efforts are part of a broader strategy to balance conservation with the livelihoods of communities living adjacent to national parks and wildlife corridors.
Miano said the fund will also support education and advocacy programs to reduce conflict incidents, including community-based mitigation strategies such as fencing, early warning systems, and wildlife corridors.
