Marakwet East farmers seek compensation after elephants destroy crops

Residents of Endo Ward in Marakwet East Constituency have appealed to Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to compensate them after elephants from the neighbouring Rimoi and Nasolol game reserves allegedly strayed into their farms, destroying crops.

The residents, led by Karamwar Farmers Association chairman Wilfred Minanyang, said the elephants destroyed crops worth millions of shillings.

Minanyang singled out farms in Kasige, Karamwar, Kamariny, Kowow, Marich and Kaben villages as the most affected.

The residents said they have already reported the matter to the KWS office in Tot town.

"We have reported the matter to the KWS office. However, we were told that officers will visit the affected farms next week to ascertain the extent of the damage," added Minanyang.

The farmers asked the government to erect electric fences to safeguard them from the animals that regularly invade their farms.

They said that they have suffered losses accumulating to millions of shillings through damage to crops and property by the wildlife.

“The only solution to this problem is erecting electric fences around the game reserves to prevent the elephants from straying out to destroy their farms," said Minanyang.

The crops affected are paw paws, beans, cowpeas, bananas, cassavas and mangoes.

They said the residents have engaged in serious farming activities in the area because of the prevailing peace after the government cracked down on the perpetrators and sponsors of banditry and cattle rustling incidents.

"Now that we have peace and rainfall in our area, residents are engaging in farming activities. We just want this menace of elephants destroying crops and property to be contained," said Minanyang.

Kenyans who suffer injury, death, or property loss from wildlife attacks are entitled to government compensation of up to Sh5 million, per the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2025.

Victims or their families must file claims within 12 months of an injury or death, or within 30 days for crop, livestock, or property losses, the law states.

Each county committee will then submit verified recommendations to a Ministerial Wildlife Compensation Committee, which will decide whether to compensate, defer, or reject the claim.

The law caps compensation at Sh5 million for deaths, Sh3 million for injury with permanent disability, and Sh1 million for other injuries.

For property losses, such as crop or livestock destruction, compensation will depend on the extent of damage.

But claims are rejected “if the victim property fails to take reasonable measures to protect such crops, livestock, or property from wildlife damage; or land use practices are inconsistent with the area's ecosystem-based management plan.”

The committees also consider factors such as the victim’s age, productivity, and contribution to the incident.