Kenya's Tech Solution for Human-Wildlife Conflict: A Timely Response

Kenya Tackles Human-Wildlife Conflict with New Digital Compensation System In Kenya, the escalating conflict between humans and wildlife, worsened by climate change and drought, is forcing a change. Farmers are losing livestock and livelihoods, while people are tragically killed in encounters with elephants and lions. "One of my nephews was killed by an elephant, and the other was mauled to death by a lion," recounts Eunice Ngali, a farmer, highlighting the devastating impact. The government's previous manual compensation system has been plagued by delays, sometimes exceeding five years. This has eroded trust and hampered coexistence efforts. To address this, a new digital system is being rolled out. It uses mobile apps and USSD codes to report incidents, allowing for faster verification and processing of claims. "The most important thing is a timely response," states Harry Chola, another farmer, emphasizing the need for swift compensation. The system also introduces a partnership between the government and the private sector, leveraging technology for improved efficiency. The initiative aims to ensure accuracy and speed in compensation, fostering trust between communities and wildlife authorities. The new system is not only transforming compensation in Kenya but is also being considered globally as a model for managing human-wildlife conflict.