Govt pays 12 Isiolo wildlife attack victims Ksh.6.7M compensation fee

The government has paid 12 Isiolo residents who were injured by wild animals between 2014 and 2017 a total of Ksh.6.7 million as compensation fee.

Nine of the beneficiaries suffered snake bites, two were attacked by crocodiles along the banks of Ewaso Nyiro River while one person was injured by a buffalo.

They will now receive an average of slightly over Ksh.550,000 each to help them recover from the inconveniences caused as a result of the injuries.

This was revealed by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala who spoke at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) headquarters in Burat where he officially opened a Ksh.3 million social hall constructed by the Northern Rangelands Trust.

CS Balala noted that the government had earlier paid Ksh.45 million to nine Isiolo families who lost their loved ones due to wildlife attacks, acknowledging that the government still has a backlog of Ksh.6 billion in unpaid claims across the country.

The CS presented the cheque to Isiolo County Commissioner Herman Shambi, who chairs the County Compensation Committee, in the presence of CAS Joseph Boinnet, PS Fred Segor, Isiolo Governor Mohamed Kuti and other leaders.

He further announced a Ksh.20 million kitty to rehabilitate the Serena-Loruko bridge that links Buffalo Springs Game Reserve in Isiolo County with Samburu Game Reserve, as well as help in grading and murraming access roads to the parks.