Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has offered Ksh 9.8 million for compensation to victims of wildlife attacks in Tana River County.
Area KWS County Warden Ms.Aisha Chunaa told press conference that her office received about Sh9.08 million in payments as compensation to 315 claimants who were injured by wild animals in the region.
The Warden said some relatives of the deceased victims had already received the first tranche of compensation, which was paid in two tranches, especially those whose kin lost their lives as a result of the attack.
She also expressed challenges while paying the victims who are getting their cash through their bank accounts, saying that some of the victims, after cashing the first tranche, withdraw all the monies from the account, resulting in the account reading negative balance or dormant; hence, when the second tranche is posted to the account, it is returned to the sender.
She further said some of the beneficiaries cannot be reached at the telephone numbers they provided to KWS offices.
She appealed to the area assistant chiefs and chiefs to help the KWS office locate the victims in order to benefit before the money is returned to the national government.
Residents of Koneramada area in Saka location of Bangale Sub County have appealed for KWS intervention following the sighting of a lion in the area that threatened the lives of people and their livestock.
Speaking to the press on the telephone, one of the residents, Mr.Abdullahi Haniti, said the roaring lion has already killed some cows and camels while causing fear to the residents, who cannot move around in the night for fear of attack by the lion.
Responding to the area Warden, Ms. Chunaa urged the residents to avoid movements at night, start their movements at 7 a.m. in the morning, and ensure they are in their homes by 6 p.m. to avoid attacks.
She said KWS is experiencing a shortage of personnel, but necessary action will be taken to protect people and their livestock.
By Simon Guruba
