Families who lose their breadwinners to wild animal attacks could get better support if MPs succeed in their push to have part of Kenya’s tourism earnings permanently set aside for human-wildlife conflict compensation.
The National Assembly Petitions Committee wants the compensation scheme protected by law, arguing that victims should not have to wait for the government of the day to decide how much money will be available for payouts.
The demand comes at a time when thousands of Kenyans affected by wildlife attacks are still waiting for compensation, despite the tourism industry generating hundreds of billions of shillings for the country.
Kuria East MP Marwa Kitayama said the current arrangement does not provide a strong enough basis for funding the compensation scheme.
“There are concerns that the allocation of compensation funds is neither anchored in law nor does it compare to the revenue generated by the sector,” Kitayama said.
The lawmakers made the proposal during a meeting with Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, who told the committee that the country generated Sh562 billion from tourism in 2025.
The earnings were higher than the Sh452 billion recorded in 2024, highlighting the large amount of money flowing into the economy from the sector.
MPs argued that communities living close to wildlife should see a greater benefit from tourism because they are often the ones left dealing with the consequences of wildlife conservation.
They said residents living near parks and other wildlife areas face the risk of losing relatives, sustaining injuries and having their farms and property damaged when animals move into areas occupied by people.
The lawmakers also raised concerns over the long wait faced by victims seeking compensation, saying the existing system has left many eligible claims unpaid.
Kitayama said the funds should be protected through legislation so that compensation does not depend on changing government priorities.
The committee further called for a review of the amounts paid to different categories of people affected by human-wildlife conflict.
Kajiado South MP George Sunkuyia questioned whether the current payment given to families of people killed by wild animals reflects the value of the loss they suffer.
The government currently pays Sh5 million to families of people killed in such attacks, an amount Sunkuyia said needs to be reconsidered.
“What is Sh5 million compared to someone’s life? As Parliament, we need to review their packages,” he said.
Miano told the committee that tourism income is spread across several areas of government spending and is not directed solely towards tourism and wildlife programmes.
She said the earnings also support important areas such as security, education and infrastructure.
The Cabinet Secretary said the government was focused on making Kenya a more attractive destination for tourists, with the aim of bringing in more visitors and growing revenue from the industry.
She also said the government had continued to provide money for compensation arising from human-wildlife conflict.
Miano said the State Department for Wildlife released about Sh960 million for compensation across the country during the 2025-26 financial year.
“The government nevertheless recognises that the level of available resources has not always been sufficient to meet the bulk of eligible claims within the desired timeframe,” Miano said.
She said the government was now carrying out changes to make the compensation system more efficient, transparent and responsive.
The proposed changes are expected to improve the way claims are handled as the government seeks to address concerns over delays and ensure eligible victims are better served.