Leaders from Kitui County have urged the government to compensate victims of snakebites in the region.
The leaders called upon the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to take responsibility and include snakebite victims in their compensation schedule.
KWS compensation
Addressing Tharaka residents on Saturday, December 30, the leaders including Member of County Assembly (MCA) Muthengi Ndangara and Senator Kiio Wambua said they will push for the implementation of the legislation.
“It worries that the government cannot compensate one of our children who was bitten by a black mamba snake. Parliament should revisit and reintroduce the law to compensate snakebite victims,” said Ndaranga.
Kitui leaders want snakebites included in the KWS compensation schedule pic.twitter.com/CUAyw7ORGy
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) December 30, 2023
Ndaranga revealed that all details have been submitted to KWS, calling for compensation to the family of the child.
Kitui senator Kiio Wambua said the government should be responsible for all victims of wildlife attacks, and compensate them, irrespective of the kind of animal that attacked.
“I am in the process of amending the compensation schedule to include snakebites for compensation. This will enable snakebite victims to be compensated like those bitten by a lion,” said Wambua.
Is the government compensating Human-Wildlife conflict victims?
In July 2023, the then Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Cabinet Secretary (CS) Peninah Malonza launched a countrywide compensation exercise for victims of human-wildlife conflicts in 46 counties.
Malonza said the victims or their dependants will receive over KSh 908 million as compensation covering the period 2014-2019.
The CS launched the compensation exercise at Voi stadium in Taita Taveta County at a grand ceremony attended by cabinet colleague Salim Mvurya, the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Principal Secretary (PS) State Department for Wildlife Hon. Silvia Museiya, Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwandime, and other local leaders.
According to KWS, victims of HWC in Taita Taveta County will receive KSh 52 million during this first phase covering 2014-2019, adding that the remaining balance will be paid once the national treasury releases another batch of compensation money.
How human-wildlife conflict victims are selected for compensation
CS Malonza said an elaborate scheme has been put in place to have the compensation beneficiaries paid their monies directly to their bank accounts.
The Law that guides wildlife management in the Country; WCMA Act, 2013 provides for the establishment of a County Wildlife Conservation and Compensation Committee (CWCCC).
The committee reviews all the lodged claims and makes appropriate recommendations to the Ministerial Wildlife Compensation Committee (MWCC) that validates and approves payment of the awards by the CWCCC.