Promoting Human Wildlife Coexistence – 28/01/2025 – Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife

Today Cabinet Secretary Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH accompanied by PS Museiya visited Nyeri County. The CS led team were in the county to engage the public on matters Human Wildlife Co-existence and conservation as a whole.

In her visit, CS Miano launched a 60km Mt Kenya Electric fence-Phase VI: Naromoru- Nanyuki fencing project by the Rhino Ark Kenya Charitable Trust. The fencing is aimed at reducing Human Wildlife Conflicts and hence cutting down on the cost of compensation.

The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife – Kenya is desirous of undertaking human-wildlife conflict mitigation projects and is fully committed to clearing all the compensation back log since it began under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act in 2014.

The CS appreciated the work that Rhino Ark in partnership with KWS, KFS, Upper Tana Natural Resource Management, Buuri and North Imenti CDFs have done so far having constructed 300 kms of Mt Kenya comprehensive fence.

Later in the afternoon the CS visited Hombe Forest, in Mathira West, to address the Hombe Community on Human Wildlife Coexistance and acknowledge some of the beneficiaries of HWC compensation from Nyeri County as part of her meet the people tour.

As stipulated in the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, payment of claims and education, extension services and public awareness will be undertaken to foster human-wildlife co-existence. For the last two financial years, the ministry has already paid Ksh. 1.8 Billion to victims of HWCs. Lask week the ministry paid out Ksh. 344M has been paid to 1122 claimants of which 61 beneficiaries are from Nyeri County.

In her remarks CS Miano reassured the victims of HWC, that the government is doing the best it can to pay all of them, and noted that with the introduction of the digital claim filing system, the process is going to be faster, efficient and effective.

PS Museiya reiterated that wild animals are everyones responsibility and all should join hands with KWS to safeguard the beautiful heritage.

Also in attendance was the Deputy Governor Nyeri County, Regional Commissioner Central Kenya Region, CEC Tourism Nyeri County, Conservation Secretary SDW, DA SDW, CWCC reps, HWC beneficiaries Nyeri County, KWS, KFS, NGAO among many others.

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