Facebook | Messages – HUMAN WILDLIFE CONFLICTS ON THE RISE IN WESTGATE (NGUTUK O’NG’IRON) – PART II

KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE COMPENSATION BUREAUCRACIES

To lower the conflicts between man and wild animals, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) wildlife conservation and management act section 62(1) says: -

“where any person suffers any bodily injury from or is
killed by any animal, the person injured or in the case
of a deceased person, any other person who was
dependent upon him at the date of his death may make
application to a district committee established by this
section for the injury or death;
Provided that no compensation shall be claimable where
the injury or death occurred –
a) in the course of any conduct on the part of the person
concerned which would constitute an offence under this
Act: -
2) for the purposes of receiving and considering
applications under subsection (1) and of awarding
compensation thereunder, there is hereby established
in each district a committee which shall consist of : -
(a) the District Commissioner, who shall be the
Chairman of the Committee
c) …
d) …
e) …
f) …
(g)
“A District Commissioner may co-opt any person whom
he/she considers may assist if either generally or for
the consideration of any particular case of compensation
awarded under this section shall be payable out of
moneys provided by Parliament for that purpose.”

How many people in Samburu have benefited from the claims they presented to KWS? How many others know the channels to follow in claiming compensations? However, we know that there are bureaucracies and delays of claims follow ups and payments. KWS personnel, police and other stakeholders have reported to some scenes of death of some cases with the aid of Westgate Conservancy but still, very little efforts have been realized in compensation claims.

The first community to try its luck in this scheme was the Maasai. We have been seeing many of them complaining of dissatisfaction, period and hassles it takes one to secure payments. This again put the Maasai community in a coalition cause with KWS that saw them going intentionally to a lions killing spree. In fact, the scheme heightened human-wildlife conflicts.

Among the requirements one is supposed to present are letter from the hospital, postmortem certificate, burial permit, police documents among an array of many I have not listed. There is no compensation of costs one is incurring during the hopeless and determined chase of the claims’ payments. All these prove difficult to Samburu residents in Ngutuk O’Ngiron to secure payments because for one, they follow traditional practices when handling dead bodies. They are not allowed by traditions to carry a dead body to hospital and in this case, the closest health center is 50KMS away. The closest police station to report the incidences for filling statements is also 50Kms away in Archer’s Post. The people are illiterate to know the next formal steps they can take in general. All these technically lock them out of the compensation claims requirements. For those who are lucky to secure compensation, complains of its meager amount. It is a challenge and the whole thing needs to be reviewed for effectiveness to stop possible reprisal by community people against rogue wild animals.

EDUCATING AND INVOLVING COMMUNITY IN CONSERVATION

Westgate Conservancy headed by its manager Mr. Daniel Letooye and Ewaso Lions Project founder Shivani Bhalla, have been involving community people in conservation programs in order to minimize human-wildlife conflicts to rock bottom.

A lot of knowledge is now passed on the value of wildlife to our communities, the country and the globe in general. To make them feel part of the process, the army of the community and the people most vulnerable in killing animals, the Samburu warriors, have been engaged in a newly launched project called the Warrior Watch Programme. Warrior Watch is a unique conservation programme in Samburu that engages warriors, or morans, in active wildlife conservation. Warrior Watch was co-founded in early 2010 by the Westgate Community Conservancy and Ewaso Lions, a project that takes a community-based approach to predator research and conservation in northern Kenya.

Through Warrior Watch, warriors report on wildlife sightings and issues such as conflict in exchange for educational lessons and a food stipend. The warriors are trained on data collection, basic wildlife ecology, conservation and security issues within the Group Ranch, and the economic value of wildlife through tourism.

The two entities have also been organizing marathon ceremonies to bring community people together and passing conservation message. Some of these ceremonies have been attended by high profiled people in KWS like Mr Julius Kipng’etich who is the body’s head and director, Samburu Game Reserve chief wardens, all conservancies’ managers, political leaders among others.

The community people are also advised on danger zones and how to avoid risks when crossing animal paths. Children are advised to be in the company of seniors and parents are cautioned from leaving children on their own even while grazing their animals in the fields. This way we can see risks going down to zero while conserving our wild animals.

Thanks

Tom Lolosoli
Secretary SEDF