KENYA WILDLIFE OFFICIALS TO PAY INJURY VICTIMS

Mar 03, 2015 William Adoyo Kisumu, National, News, Regional 0

The National Government plans to compensate victims of wildlife injuries in Kisumu and Homa Bay, Migori and Siaya Counties respectively this week.

Kenya Wildlife Service Senior warden in charge of Kisumu and Siaya Counties Christine Boit says the compensation will be handed over to the victims by the county commission Erastus Ekidor.

Boit said those who have been lined up for compensation are those who were affected before the enacted of the new Wildlife Act.

She said that the victims whose cheques will be ready for collection on Monday will be given to them and asked the community members to be patient as they will be in the process to process more payment to them.

Speaking to Kisumu News, Boit said relatives of those who were killed by wildlife will be paid Sh. 200,000 while those who were injured will take home KShs. 50,000.

Ekidor further said they will use the old compensation rate and not the new rates under the revised Act.

Cases of wildlife human conflict have been rampant in these counties owing to its vicinity to Lake Victoria region.

Several people mostly fishermen have been attacked by hippos and crocodiles while on fishing expedition.

Compensation under the Wildlife and conservation and Management Act’ is set out under section 62 of the Act

The Act states that 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 injured who was dependent upon him at the date of death may make application to district committee established by this section for the award of the compensation for the injury or death’.

The act stipulates that the compensation process starts at the District level where the District Compensation Committee deliberates on legitimate cases to be compensated by the Kenya Wildlife Society.

After which the will be awarded compensation ranging from KShs. 50,000 for injuries and KShs. 200,000 for the loss of life cases received, considered, determined and awarded by the District compensation committees effective which was as effective as 1st July 2006.

The District Wildlife compensation Committee is chaired by the area District Commissioner as KWS officer being the secretary to the committee as was gazetted in the act.