(Posted 05th March 2025)
Courtesy of African Elephant News and Florah Koech, Nation Media Group
The Kenyan government has set aside more than Sh1 billion this year to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflicts.
In 2023 and 2024, the government spent Sh966 million and another Sh908 million on pending claims dating back from 2013, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano said on Monday.
Speaking when officiating the World Wildlife Day at Lake Bogoria in Baringo South, CS Miano noted that the government has scaled up efforts to compensate human-wildlife conflict victims in a fair and timely manner supported by a more efficient digital system.
Baringo is among the pilot counties where victims can now receive compensation within 90 days of lodging claims.
The intervention, according to the CS, is a crucial step toward fostering co-existence between people and wildlife, while ensuring sustainable conservation practices.
“Conservation remains a shared responsibility requiring all hands on deck if we are to create a legacy of resilient ecosystems, thriving communities, and sustainable economic growth,” she said.
This year’s theme is ‘Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,’ which the CS said is a call for sustainable and non-conventional funding mechanisms to support conservation.
The government is also encouraging public-private partnerships and seeking investors in conservation projects to enhance financial sustainability, as well as adopting carbon credits and biodiversity offsetting by encouraging industries to contribute to conservation through responsible financing.
“We are also imposing payments for ecosystem services through ensuring communities benefit from conservation by incentivising sustainable land use and establishing eco-tourism and conservation enterprises to support nature-based tourism and local enterprises that generate revenue for conservation and local livelihoods,” she said.
“Kenya recognises that beyond protecting animals, conservation is about securing the future of our people, our environment, and our economy. Through initiatives such as the Kenya Wildlife Protection and Biodiversity Strategy, the National Wildlife Strategy (2018-2030), and innovative conservation finance mechanisms, we are systematically aligning our efforts with global best practices,” she stated.
The CS added that the government is also integrating conservation into climate resilience, community empowerment, and national economic planning.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General Erastus Kanga said ecotourism projects exemplify how conservation can generate economic benefits while protecting biodiversity.
“Investing in community-led ecotourism initiatives creates sustainable livelihoods while preserving wildlife habitats. Youth and women are key drivers of our conservation efforts. Their inclusion ensures that our initiatives are inclusive, sustainable and impactful,” he said, noting that partners like the Wildlife Clubs of Kenya engage young people in conservation activities, while women-led bee-keeping cooperatives provide sustainable livelihoods and promote biodiversity conservation.
“These initiatives not only empower communities but also foster a sense of ownership and responsibility toward our natural resources,” said Prof Kanga.
However, he cited human-wildlife conflict as a major setback to wildlife conservation, raising concern that it endangers both wildlife and human communities.
Elephant Translocations
To address the conflicts, he said, KWS has implemented several interventions, including infrastructure support by constructing classrooms in conflict-prone areas to increase access to education.
Prof Kanga added that over 122km of fences have been constructed in national and game reserves, with an additional 71km rehabilitated to reduce human-wildlife conflicts.
“Through use of technology, we have also set up predator deterrent lights and facilitated elephant translocations.”
Prof Kanga added that aloe farming in Baringo, Laikipia, Taita Taveta, among others provides a national model for conservation and utilisation of regulated plants.
“The cultivation of drought-resistant aloe plants not only restores degraded lands but also creates habitats for pollinators, supporting Kenya’s national development strategies. This initiative, coupled with technology transfer and local value addition for pharmaceutical and cosmetic uses, demonstrates how conservation can drive sustainable development,” he stated.
Despite the achievements, Prof Kanga noted that they face significant challenges, including inadequate funding for endangered species recovery plans, protected area management, and research programmes.
He called for increased investment in conservation financing, partnerships with county governments, and enhanced collaboration with local communities and stakeholders, highlighting the need for modernisation of parks to enhance visitor experiences and revenue generation.
Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi said the region has made significant strides in advancing community-led conservation through its network of conservancies that function as essential wildlife corridors while creating economic opportunities for local communities.
He said the 16 active conservancies in the county including Kiborgoch, Chuine, Irong, Tuiarus and Ruko play a vital role in safeguarding endangered species such as the greater Kudu, giant ground Pangolin, Rothschild’s Giraffe, and Patas Monkey. He added that the conservancies also promote ecotourism and foster local enterprise development.
“Additionally, our 14 sites, including Lake Bogoria, Lake Baringo, Tugen Hills, and the Kerio Valley Escarpment, are not just geological wonders but also biodiversity hotspots that support both wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism. Through the Baringo Great Rift Valley Geopark, we have an opportunity to integrate conservation with geotourism, research, and community development,” said Governor Cheboi.
“As a county government, we recognise that investing in wildlife and natural resources is not just about protecting species, it is about securing livelihoods, boosting tourism and fostering resilience against climate change,” he added.
To achieve this, he said, they are working closely with the national government, private investors, development partners, and conservation organisations to establish sustainable financing models, including community conservation funds to empower local communities in wildlife protection.
“We are providing community conservation funds to empower local communities in wildlife protection and also reward communities for conservation efforts,” he said, calling on residents to embrace conservation as a means of securing their future.
