Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano officially launches the translocation exercise of 56 hippos from Mukindu public dam in Nyandarua County to a safer habitat alongside teams from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) on July 9, 2026/HANDOUTThe government has begun relocating 56 hippos from Mukindu Public Dam in Nyandarua County to a safer habitat following years of escalating human-wildlife conflict after the drying up of Lake Ol' Bolossat.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano made the announcement, saying the exercise marks the start of a long-term solution for residents of Mukindu in Nyandarua Central, who have lived alongside the displaced animals since 2023.
According to Miano, the drying up of Lake Ol' Bolossat forced the hippos to seek refuge in the three-acre unfenced Mukindu public dam, bringing them into close contact with nearby farms and homes.
The Cabinet Secretary said the situation exposed residents to danger while also increasing cases of crop destruction and other losses linked to the animals.
She officially launched the translocation exercise alongside teams from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI).
Miano said relocating hippos is a delicate and technically demanding operation that requires specialised equipment and highly trained personnel.
She expressed confidence in the KWS teams leading the exercise, saying they possess the expertise required to safely move the animals to a more suitable habitat.
"As this exercise gets underway, we wish to reassure our farmers that the Government is fully committed to protecting and ensuring that their lives and property remain safe," she said.
The Cabinet Secretary said the relocation aims to restore safety for residents while providing the hippos with an environment better suited to their survival.
She added that the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife is working closely with the Community Wildlife Compensation Committee to ensure that genuine claims arising from crop damage and other wildlife-related losses are processed fairly and without unnecessary delays.
According to Miano, the compensation process forms part of broader government efforts to address the impact of human-wildlife conflict on affected communities.
She said the relocation exercise demonstrates the government's commitment to restoring peace, improving public safety and supporting the economic wellbeing of families living around Mukindu.
The operation comes after residents experienced prolonged encounters with the displaced hippos following the drying of Lake Ol' Bolossat, which had served as their natural habitat before the animals moved to the much smaller public dam.
Authorities expect the relocation to reduce the risk of human-wildlife conflict while allowing the animals to settle in a habitat better suited to their ecological needs.
