Victims of human-wildlife conflict in Kilifi have alleged that Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers are demanding Sh1,500 for verification forms.
The completion of the verification forms is the initial step in the validation process for victims seeking compensation for wildlife attacks. These forms are provided free of charge.
On Wednesday, a senior KWS officer who spoke to The Standard confidentially acknowledged the bribery claims and promised to investigate and address the challenges.
"Those forms are given to victims for free, and it's a crime for any officer to solicit money from residents," he said.
Victims said the fee was making it hard for them to seek compensation.
Baraka Katana, a resident of Kaembeni village in Ganze, said a lion strayed into his home while they were asleep and killed two cows and four goats.
Baraka said he reported the matter, and KWS camp officers assessed the damage.
"For just writing the report, the officers demanded Sh1,500 for the forms and an additional Sh2,000 for fuel," he claimed.
He claimed that he borrowed money from his sister to pay the rangers.
"My sister gave me Sh800 to top up the Sh2,000 I had to pay them. I could not get the Sh3,500 because I was alone at home. I took the Sh2,800," he said.
Meanwhile, fear has gripped Kaembeni and Malanga villages after a stray lion killed dozens of livestock, including cows, sheep, and goats.
Samson Charo, another local, is counting losses after his two goats were killed by the lion on Sunday. Charo said he has not reported the matter to KWS because he does not have money.
"The lion killed my two goats in the middle of the night. I heard noise from the livestock shed, and when I peeped through the window, I saw the lion chasing the goats," he said.
Masha Wanje, a resident of Malanga, said he lost two cows.
"I heard a commotion in the cow shed and woke up. I found two of my cows missing. Up to now I have not been able to trace the carcasses," he said.
Malanga sub-location Assistant chief Dickson Kahindi, said the lion is still roaming in the area and poses danger to school-going children.
"Officers have tried to locate it, and they have realised that it has not left the area, and we don't know which village it will show up next," he said.
Wanje urged KWS to set up the search for the lion to avert more damages and loss of lives.
''We want the government to intervene; it's so hard for the villagers, especially school-going children who walk to far-flung schools like Mekatilili School in Kang'amboni. They are at a very high risk since they leave at the wee hours of the morning,'' he said.
