Visirani vya Nyani: Why you cannot be compensated for a baboon attack
A baboon near the Lake Nakuru National Park.
Lakeview, Free area, Naka and Kaloleni C. These are just some of the areas where baboons reign supreme terrorizing residents.
The residents of these areas now live in fear after the traumatizing experiences that the baboons have made them go through.
Talking to some of the residents in these areas you get to hear cases of residents losing a large number of chicken to these baboons.
Some even going a step further of keeping their chicken under lock and key the whole day not letting them out for fears baboons will come and eat them.
There was also the issue of destruction of iron sheets caused by these troops of baboons often seeking higher ground to avoid being easily spotted.
Over the past year, Mtaa Wangu has highlighted cases of people who fell victims to these animals, some sustaining life threatening injuries.
With all the havoc and chaos that these wild predators present, one would think that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) would be obligated to compensate these residents in line with the Wildlife Management and Conservation act of 2013.
However, this is not the case, according to Cheruiyot Chepkwony, the County Warden at the Lake Nakuru National Park.
Cheruiyot Chepkwony, the County Warden at the Lake Nakuru National Park during an interview with Mtaa Wangu.
Chepkwony says that baboons are not covered under the act and therefore no compensation can come forthwith from the destruction that comes from the baboons.
"This act which was passed by the lawmakers does not offer compensation to those victims who may have been attacked by baboons," he said.
Mtaa Wangu took a look at the Wildlife Management and Conservation act and indeed baboons are not listed in the third schedule which lists all the animals that one will be compensated for, in the event of personal injury or death or damage to property.
With every action there should be an equal and opposite reaction.
A business woman fending off an aggressive Baboon while at Lakeview, outside the Lake Nakuru National Park.
Mtaa Wangu spoke to one John Karangu* a resident of Free Area who spoke bitterly of how the baboons killed 20 of his chicken and as if that was not enough, he has replaced the leaking roofs of his house time and time again.
"These malicious animals keep causing us harm time and time again but the KWS do not take any action in helping us," he said.
From the high pitch in his voice at the time, one would tell that this is a man who has had enough and is willing to put his foot down.
" Our women and children are not safe in our homes and as a family man I am willing to do anything even killing these animals, just to protect my family. But in the event I do that, this will leave me at odds with the KWS, as they often would not want to understand the circumstance with which I acted," he said angrily.
Another resident in Lake view, Hadija Osundwa echoes the sentiments of John and says that whenever they act against these baboons that terrorize them, they are usually scolded by the wardens.
"The wardens would often tell us " endeleeni tu kuzichokoza " yet we are the ones who are helpless," she said.
Speaking to this, the County Warden confirms that people are not allowed to cause harm to any wildlife.
"It is only in cases of self-defence that a person can be allowed to harm a wild animal but in other cases, KWS should be called to act," he said.
He however concludes that through holding public barazas and working together with the community, they are coming up with ways that will see the issue being resolved gradually as time goes by.