On July 11, 2019, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) approved a compensation package for three families in Tana River County, totaling 15 million shillings.
The compensation, which amounts to 5 million shillings per family, was approved by the KWS in accordance with the KWS Act, as recommended by the Tana River County Compensation Committee.
Speaking to journalists, Tana River County Senior Warden Mr. Miraj Ruga explained that the compensation would be paid in three phases, with the families receiving 30 percent of the money in the first and second phases, and 40 percent in the last phase.
Mr. Ruga noted that the cases considered for compensation were those that occurred between 2014 and 2016, and were forwarded to KWS by the county compensation committee.
He emphasized that not every case was approved, as the government cannot compensate everyone for wildlife attacks, which are not limited to Tana River County.
Human-wildlife conflicts are rampant in the county, especially during the dry seasons when humans and wild animals compete for water, Mr. Ruga said.
He warned that local residents who engage in poaching, especially for small antelopes known as dikdik, would be severely punished if caught.
