KITUI, Kenya — Twenty-six families in Kitui County have received compensation from the Kenyan government after suffering losses caused by wildlife. The payout, totaling over KSh 52 million, was handed over during a ceremony marking the International Day for Biological Diversity.
The event, held in Mutomo on Thursday, brought together government officials, local leaders and residents to recognise the rising toll of human-wildlife conflict in rural Kenya.
“We are here to make things right, to bring justice to those who’ve lost loved ones, livestock, or property,” said Dr Shadrack Ngene, Wildlife Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, who represented Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua.
The money, he said, is not just about compensation it’s part of a broader plan to ease tensions between communities and the wildlife they live alongside.
The funds cover cases ranging from deadly animal attacks to injuries and destroyed crops. Most incidents involved elephants, lions, and other large animals straying from nearby parks or reserves into farms and villages.
Dr Ngene stressed the government’s dual approach: responding to tragedies, while also working to prevent them. “We cannot afford to treat this as just a payout exercise. Conflict prevention is at the heart of our long-term vision,” he told the crowd gathered beneath the scorching Kitui sun.
The Deputy Governor of Kitui, Augustine Kanani, welcomed the effort.
“This is more than a cheque. It’s a message to our people that they are not forgotten,” he said. “But we must also learn to live in harmony with the nature that surrounds us.”
Also present were area Member of Parliament Dr Rachael Nyamai, Members of the County Assembly, and senior government administrators, including the County Commissioner.
The ceremony coincided with this year’s biodiversity day, themed Harmony with Nature and Sustainable Development. It gave conservation officials a moment to remind the public that humans and wildlife share more than just space they share a future.
As climate change shrinks habitats and populations grow, cases of conflict are becoming more frequent, especially in counties like Kitui that border protected areas.
Experts say compensation alone won’t solve the problem. Dr Patrick Omondi, a conservationist based in Nairobi, told media sources, “We need better fencing, better early-warning systems, and, crucially, local community engagement in managing wildlife corridors.”
The Ministry says it’s committed to that, working closely with counties to build resilience. Plans include strengthening local response teams and promoting land-use practices that reduce the risk of animal encroachment.
For now, though, the money offers some relief to families caught in the crosshairs of survival and conservation.
“This brings peace of mind,” said Joseph Mwanzia, whose son was injured by a buffalo last year. “We still live in fear, but at least someone is listening.”
