Farmers protest compensation for wildlife damage

Residents in different regions of Meru affected by human–wildlife invasions have lamented the lack of adequate compensation by the national government to cover their losses.

Some of the victims of wildlife invasions on their farms said they received as little as Sh3,000 at a time they were expecting up to Sh1 million in compensation for crop destruction.

The protests by angry farmers came barely a fortnight after President William Ruto, accompanied by his deputy Kithure Kindiki and Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, launched the Sh950 million Human–Wildlife Conflict Compensation Scheme under the new digital claims handling system, near the Meru National Park.

Victims of wildlife attacks from Kinanduba, Kanjoo, Kiruuyu, and Ntukai in Igembe Central Constituency decried the paltry payments, arguing that they did not adequately cover the extensive damages.

The visibly irritated farmers demanded a review of the compensation amounts or for the government to revert to the old system of payment.

Nancy Wanja, counting her losses, said she lost three acres of various crops, including maize, beans, and sorghum, after elephants invaded her farm last year. Despite her investment and efforts on the farm, she only received Sh3,750 via mobile money.

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She had eagerly awaited her compensation, believing she was to receive a significant amount to cover the extensive damage the jumbos had caused, but was thrown into a state of shock when she received a meagre Sh3,750.

“When the valuation of the damage was done by agriculture officers and the Kenya Wildlife Service, I was informed that I was eligible for more than Sh800,000. We were also relieved when the President came here and announced that the government had released Sh950 million as compensation. I was shocked when I received Sh3,750 through mobile money,” a dejected Wanja said.

Martha Makena is also protesting the little compensation. Despite elephants destroying her watermelons and green grams, she only received Sh4,950.

“Farming is my family’s only source of income, which sustains us. If the government is not ready to compensate us for the losses caused by wild animals, they should give us jobs. I was very shocked to receive Sh4,900,” she said.