Standing under the open skies of Meru National Park on Sunday morning, President William Ruto made a promise: no more long waits for Kenyans who have suffered due to wildlife attacks.
Speaking at the launch of the latest compensation phase, worth KSh950 million, Ruto said the government would now fast-track payments to victims of human-wildlife conflict. “Kenyans will no longer wait eight years to get what they’re owed,” he said. “We are making sure payments are made within four months.”
A Decade of Delays, a Shift in Pace
Until recently, compensation had been painfully slow. In nearly a decade—between 2013 and 2022—the government disbursed only KSh2.7 billion. In contrast, Ruto said that in just the last two years, KSh2.8 billion had already been paid.
“We’ve moved from manual to digital. That’s how we’re speeding this up,” he told the crowd, which included Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, local leaders, and Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano.
From now on, all claims—whether for loss of life, injury, or crop damage—must be reported and processed within 90 days, according to new guidelines issued by the President.
Communities at the Heart of Conservation
Ruto emphasised that communities living near wildlife must see direct benefits if conservation efforts are to succeed. “Citizens must see the benefits of wildlife,” he said.
As part of this push, he launched a new Wildlife Conservation Prepaid Card. Created in partnership with Kenya Commercial Bank, the card allows users to donate small amounts from each transaction—KSh10 for the Elephant tier, KSh5 for Lion, and KSh3 for Cheetah—to the Wildlife Trust Fund.
“It’s a simple way for everyday Kenyans to support conservation without changing how they spend,” Ruto said.
Beefing Up Kenya Wildlife Service
Ruto also spoke of ongoing efforts to modernise the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). Last year, the government bought 100 vehicles for KWS, and 1,500 new rangers were hired to help manage parks and respond to conflicts.
He credited the digitisation of park fee collection for boosting revenue. “Two years ago, parks brought in KSh5.3 billion. Last year, we hit KSh7 billion. This year, we’re looking at KSh7.5 billion,” he said.
To prevent animals from straying into farms and villages, the government has extended wildlife fencing by 200 kilometres. Ruto instructed the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to find money to fence off Meru National Park as well.
Boosting Meru’s Tourism Appeal
The President announced KSh250 million for the renovation of Meru’s Mulika Airstrip. The upgrade is expected to draw more tourists and revive the region’s hospitality sector.
“This will increase the number of visitors to the Meru circuit, and with them, new hotels, jobs, and investment,” he said.
A Word on Health and Education
On healthcare, Ruto urged Kenyans to register with the Social Health Authority (SHA), calling it a working system. “Those who can afford it are paying. The government is covering the rest,” he said.
He also confirmed that 24,000 more teachers will be hired this financial year. That would bring the total number of new hires since he took office to 100,000.
“Time for Politics Will Come”
As the speech wound down, Ruto warned against endless politicking. “There are people who want to engage us in politics all day, every day. We tell them the time for politics will come. For now, let’s focus on development,” he said.
Deputy President Kindiki praised Ruto’s conservation efforts. “Kenya’s wildlife is the envy of many nations,” he said.
Cabinet Secretary Miano echoed the sentiment. “Under President Ruto, we’ve seen more support for ranger hiring, conservancies, and restoring the environment than ever before.”
From promises of swift justice for victims to the roll-out of new conservation tools, Ruto’s message was clear: wildlife is not just a national treasure—it’s a shared responsibility, and everyone must benefit from it.
