Isiolo residents demand compensation for wildlife victims

A map of Isiolo County. Isiolo leaders want the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict. GRAPHIC | GOOGLE MAP

What you need to know:

  • The hostility between Kinna residents and officers intensified last year following the killing and mysterious disappearance of young men in the area.
  • KWS Director General Kitili Mbathi called on the MPs to push for increment of compensation kitty.

Isiolo leaders want the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict and those tortured by rangers.

The leaders, who attended a reconciliation meeting between KWS and Borana community in Kinna, Isiolo County said the victims have filed claim forms but are yet to receive compensation.

The hostility between Kinna residents and officers intensified last year following the killing and mysterious disappearance of young men in the area.

Two people died and more than 10, including a ranger, were injured last year during a confrontation between KWS officers and the locals.

KWS is also accused of abducting some locals suspected of poaching and charcoal burning in the Meru National Park in the region.

Last year the Senate committee on security visited the area to probe the matter and several people presented their grievances against KWS.

Nominated Senator Fatuma Dullo, Women representative Tiyah Galgalo, Isiolo South MP Abdullahi Banticha, and Kinna Ward MCA Adan Ali also blamed the officers for punishing the community instead of singling out criminals.

Ms Galgalo said cases of mysterious disappearance of young men in the area were rampant with some reportedly being castrated.

“The Borana community is the most affected due to our proximity to the Meru National park, we have held several demonstrations in protest of the matter,” said the MP.

Ms Dhulo cautioned the officers from taking law into their hands saying a suspect should not be tortured but taken to court.

“Why should the community pay for the mistakes of one or two people? This is the highest level of impunity and must stop immediately,” said Ms Dullo.

KWS Director General Kitili Mbathi called on the MPs to push for increment of compensation kitty to enable the service compensate the victims effectively.

He denied claims that KWS rangers were torturing residents.