EMBU, September 28: The Kenyan government has allocated Sh1.1 billion this year to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflicts, according to Peninah Malonza, the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife.
Malonza revealed that this funding is intended to address a backlog of 2,600 claims, while also emphasizing that her ministry is actively working on a strategy to ensure prompt compensation in the future.
During the UN-World Tourism Day Celebrations in Embu on September 27, 2023, CS Peninah Malonza further disclosed that the ministry has already disbursed Sh900 million to claimants who had waited for compensation for up to 14 years.
She expressed the government’s commitment to settling all outstanding claims by the end of the year and announced plans to establish an insurance scheme to expedite compensation for victims injured by wildlife or suffering property damage.
Additionally, Malonza highlighted the government’s intensified efforts to erect wildlife corridors as a means of reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife.
She acknowledged the tourism sector’s ongoing recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that it has achieved a remarkable 98% recovery rate.
Malonza also made a commitment to protect Kenyan cultural songs and dances from exploitation by foreigners, emphasizing the need to patent these cultural treasures to prevent their unauthorized use for profit.
She cited examples of Swahili words like “Jambo” and “Hakuna Matata” being used by foreigners to attract tourists to their countries, which she deemed unacceptable.
Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, the event’s host, expressed her delight at hosting such an event in her region. She highlighted Embu’s tourism potential, including sports, culture, adventure, and agriculture tourism, and revealed plans to advocate for the opening of a new route to Mount Kenya through Irangi Forest in Embu, which would further promote tourism in the county.
