Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Taita Taveta County have closed ranks in efforts to minimize incidences of human-wildlife conflicts and the resulting destruction of property and loss of lives.
Addressing a meeting at the county headquarters in Mwatate, Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime said 63 per cent of the county’s land mass lies within the Tsavo East and West landscapes hence accounting for the frequent man versus beast conflicts.
The governor asked KWS to work closely with the county administration and involve the local communities in addressing the conflicts to minimise the clash between residents and wild animals.
“The county administration is ready to work with KWS with the involvement of residents to end the human-wildlife conflicts. In the long run, the strategy will also end the bad blood between communities, KWS, and wild animals,” said Mwadime.
KWS Director, Brigadier (Rtd) John Migui Waweru, while acknowledging the perennial problem of human-wildlife conflict said they are doing everything including putting up several electric fence projects to end the problem once and for all.
“We are aware of the year-in year-out human-wildlife conflicts on the Tsavo landscape and we are working on several electric fence projects to put the problem to bed once and for all,” said Waweru.
The KWS Director further welcomed the invitation by the governor to work with the county’s administration and involve the local communities in not only ending human-wildlife conflicts but also finding areas of mutual benefit to every side of the conflicts.
“Your invitation to work with your administration and the local communities is the way to go to not only to solve the human-wildlife conflicts but also find ways to benefit all sides,” said Waweru.
In early October, the national government through KWS released Sh206 million to compensate hundreds of residents in the county for the loss of lives, and destruction of crops and properties by marauding wild animals in tens of villages near the Tsavo landscape for the period 2014-2021.
Announcing the release of the funds, Taita Taveta County Commissioner Loyford Kibaara said the national government was committed to compensating legitimate human-wildlife conflict claims while at the same time working tirelessly to find lasting solutions to the problem.
“The government will honor legitimate claims for loss of lives, destruction of crops and property from human-wildlife conflicts while at the same time working tirelessly to find lasting solutions to the problem,” said Kibaara.
The administrator added that compensation money for 2021-2022 human-wildlife conflict victims was in the pipeline and urged the residents to be patient as better strategies to curb the problem are worked out by all stakeholders.
By Arnold Linga Masila
