Elgeyo Marakwet, Kenya: Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Thursday compensated 30 victims of wildlife attacks in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The victims, who included relatives of two people who succumbed to the injuries from the wild animals attacks, received Sh1.8 million in total.
The deceased received Sh 200 000 each while those injured were awarded Sh50, 000 each.
80 percent of the beneficiaries were victims of snake bites who were attacked by the slithering reptiles on the Elgeyo escarpment which harbours some of the venomous snakes.
Among them was a police officer James Wanjuki, who was attacked and injured by a honey badger as he wrestled the animal that had attacked a villager.
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The officer survived the vicious animal with several injuries on different parts of his body after managing to rescue the villager.
Area county commissioner Joseph Otieno, accompanied by his deputy Moses Lilan and local KWS warden Dominic Kilonzo, issued the cheques to the victims.
He said the recently enacted wildlife management bill would ensure victims of wildlife attacks receive high perks.
"This is the last group of individuals being compensated as per the old rates and we anticipate those who have forwarded their complaints would be compensated with the new rates," Otieno said.
