Laikipia North MP Sarah Lekorere has threatened to mobilize families of victims killed by wild animals to sue Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) following delayed compensation by the government agency.
Lekorere said so far, the families of 28 people killed by wild animals, mostly by elephants have been spending money travelling to KWS headquarters to follow up on the compensation but none has been forth coming.
“Some of them have been pursuing compensation for over five years. We have children who were left orphans because their parents were killed by the jumbos,” said the MP.
The lawmaker said Laikipia North is one the places in the country with minimal cases of poaching while wild animals roam freely killing and maiming people and destroying their crops.
She wondered why tourists are given preferential treatment when attacked by wild animals.
Speaking when he toured Laikipia West during the World Wetland day last week, Cabinet Secretary for Environment Mr. Keriako Tobiko said that the ministry of Tourism and Wildlife had pending claims of over Sh 5 billion for compensation.
He blamed the legislators for not allocating enough funds in the budget to cater for compensation of human-wildlife conflict victims.
Cases of human-wildlife conflict in Laikipia County have been on the rise, lately being an incident whereby a 12 year-old pupil of Mwireri Primary school was mauled by a hyena at his home area in Ol moran, Laikipia County.
The boy’s parents also suffered serious injuries while trying to fight off the animal and save their son.
By Jesse Mwitwa
