People affected by wildlife attacks in Kajiado have asked Parliament to overhaul the compensation system, saying communities that live alongside animals are left to shoulder losses while claims take too long to resolve and payments fail to reflect the value of the damage suffered.
The call was made before the Public Petitions Committee on Thursday, August 13, 2026, by residents of Kajiado who said living close to wildlife habitats and movement routes has exposed communities to repeated losses.
The petitioners said wildlife conflict has resulted in deaths and injuries, destruction of crops and livestock, damage to homes and other property, psychological distress and loss of income.
They argued that communities living around wildlife areas have traditionally coexisted with animals and remain close to important habitats, dispersal areas and migration corridors, yet they continue to bear the cost whenever conflict occurs.
Kajiado West MP George Sunkuiya, who presented the petition on behalf of the residents, told the committee that the compensation rates need to be brought in line with the current value of the property and livelihoods affected.
"The existing compensation mechanism remains ineffective, underfunded, bureaucratic and characterized by prolonged delays, while the current compensation rates do not reflect the true economic value of the losses suffered by the affected communities." Noted Hon. Sunkuiya.
Kenny Matampash of Iloodokilani Ward in Kajiado County has separately petitioned the National Assembly to amend the Wildlife Conservation Management Act, 2013, to address gaps in the compensation process.
Among the proposals is an increase in the amount paid to victims, together with fixed deadlines for processing and settling claims.
The petitioners are also seeking to have the assessment and approval of compensation claims handled at the county level, arguing that this would bring the process closer to affected communities and help reduce delays.
They told the committee that a stronger compensation system would ease the economic and social pressure facing families that continue to live alongside wildlife.
During the hearing, committee members also considered whether wildlife corridors could be fenced to control animal movement and reduce contact between wildlife and nearby communities.
Sunkuiya said such a move would be difficult because animals move across a connected network of parks, reserves and migration routes extending beyond Kenya's borders.
"The issue of fencing is very hard especially in that area. We are between Maasai Mara, Serengeti in Tanzania, Tsavo in Mombasa and Amboseli on the other side. So, to fence it is almost impossible. There most important thing is to think of timely compensation mechanisms to those affected." Responded Hon. Sunkuiya.
He instead urged greater attention to ensuring people who suffer losses receive compensation within a reasonable period.
The petitioners maintained that improving the compensation framework would provide relief to communities that have continued to live with the risks associated with wildlife movement while protecting their livelihoods and property.