In a major push to modernize conservation and support affected communities, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has announced a digital overhaul of the national compensation system and an immediate funding injection for victims of human-wildlife conflict.
Speaking at Rimoi Primary School during the World Wildlife Day celebrations, CS Miano revealed that the government has earmarked KSh21 million for this financial year specifically to compensate 335 individuals in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Addressing the long-standing frustrations over payment delays, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed that the Elgeyo Marakwet claimants would receive their funds by June 2026.
To eliminate bureaucracy and increase transparency, the government is developing a national digital system for reporting and verifying wildlife-related damages, which is expected to be rolled out countrywide by the same deadline.
This platform will be integrated with County Commissioners’ offices, and beneficiaries are urged to update their banking details with the KWS County Warden immediately to facilitate the transition.
The Ministry has established a robust education and awareness programme to ensure Kenyans are fully informed about the new digital platform, noting that annual allocations will continue until all pending claims nationwide are settled.
The CS emphasized that the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute cannot protect the nation’s biodiversity in a vacuum, characterizing wildlife as a cornerstone of the “Kenya Brand” that appears prominently on the national emblem and currency.
To bolster protection efforts, the Ministry is focusing on community-led models that move local residents from being spectators to active stewards who share in the economic benefits of conservation.
This strategy includes strict enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics in all terrestrial and marine protected areas and reaffirming Kenya’s role in international agreements like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Miano lauded the contributions of international agencies, NGOs, and local conservancies, noting that collaboration is the primary reason Kenya remains a premier global destination for wildlife tourism. She remarked that indigenous knowledge and traditional stewardship are essential to protecting forests and rangelands.
The event ended with a call for all Kenyans to act as committed custodians of the country’s natural heritage to ensure the economic and ecological pillars of the nation remain standing for future generations.
