Kenyans affected by wildlife attacks continue to wait for compensation as claims accumulate to Sh3.5 billion, with many victims waiting years without payment.
The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife faces criticism over funding shortages and administrative delays that have stalled the process, leaving thousands of families in limbo.
The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly has slammed the ministry over the delays, urging prompt action to clear the backlog.
During a recent hearing chaired by Butere MP Tindi Mwale, Wildlife Principal Secretary Silvia Museiya Kihoro revealed that from 2017 to 2021, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) released only Sh3.08 billion, far below the total compensation owed to victims.
Museiya noted that even though the ministry’s yearly allocation often exceeds Sh900 million, disbursements have been inconsistent, with only Sh65 million received in 2018 and Sh175 million in 2017.
“We have people who have been waiting since 2014, and it is now 2025. We began with 2014–2016 claims and are currently processing those from 2020/2021. Compensation for later years has not begun,” she said.
The PS said over 20,000 claims remain unresolved, including incidents of death, injuries, and property damage caused by wild animals. The ministry focuses on older claims first, but many beneficiaries pass away before receiving compensation.
“We are proposing a new law to make payments more realistic and affordable to the government,” she added.
Lawmakers expressed concern about the role and efficiency of County Wildlife Compensation Committees (CWCCs), which verify claims before sending them to the ministry.
Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo asked, “In theory, these committees exist, but are they actually meeting?” He also pointed out inconsistencies in reported incidents, citing gaps in records of crocodile and hippo attacks in Siaya and Busia counties. “Your report shows only one crocodile-related death in Siaya for the year, yet I know of at least ten cases in my constituency,” he said.
Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo criticised selective payouts, noting that victims in Busia were left out. “Around September 2021, there was a hippo attack in Busembe and Busito, where people died. Yet these cases were never captured,” he said.
Teso South MP Mary Emase said the ministry had breached the Public Finance Management Act by failing to treat pending claims as a first charge in the following year’s budget. “If you already know the number of claims each year, why not allocate enough funds to clear them?” she asked.
Museiya attributed the delays to budget shortfalls and a freeze on CWCC allowances by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) between 2021 and 2023, which halted committee meetings and slowed processing.
MPs also questioned the Sh800 million digital system being developed to manage claims. Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo said, “That amount sounds excessive. Such funds could instead go toward paying victims.”
Museiya responded that the ministry could return payment authority to KWS once the digital system is operational. “If we can make the process seamless, I’m happy to return the payment role to KWS,” she said.
She further noted plans to adjust compensation rates to enable faster and more sustainable payments. “Kenyans have told us they prefer prompt payment over large but delayed amounts,” Museiya said.
Despite assurances, MPs warned that delayed justice remains justice denied.
