SNAKE BITES EARNS MANDERA FAMILIES 40 M

 BY ADOW JUBAT

Families of eight people who died from snake bites in Mandera County early this year will receive Sh. 5 million each from the government as compensation.

 Speaking to the media in Mandera town, area warden officer Adan Alio said the compensation is as a result of Kenya wildlife service decision to compensate the families of the victims which were killed by the snakes early this year.

 (PIC Goods been smuggled to Mandera town from Somalia on drunkard donkeys )

He said the deaths occurred at various places and time within the county but after the new 2014 wildlife conservation and compensation act came into force on January 9, 2014.

“We are expecting Sh. 40 million from the ministry of Environment and immediately the cheques are ready it will be dispatched to the beneficiary families, “said Alio.

He said 175 cases of injuries emanating from wild animals in the entire county this year have not been addressed as a county compensation and conservation committee is waiting to be constituted early next year.

“Injury cases are rather tricky and must be investigated thoroughly before compensation is done, people who sustained injuries from wild animals must wait as experts from relevant fields are consulted and a committee which is to be formed in December this year, “He said.  

The warden said after the 2014 wildlife act for permanent injuries, victims are entitled to Sh. 3 million up from Sh. 50,000 before the new act.

“The new act is a reprieve to many victims, here in Mandera over 100 people who had sustained injuries before the new act came into force early January will have to bear with the old rates, for deaths Sh. 200,000 unlike now when semi permanent injuries the amount payable is between Sh. 2 and 1.5 million, “ said Alio.

He called on families living in Somali grass thatched houses commonly known as ‘hirios’ to protect themselves from snake bites by using mosquito nets at night besides putting on closed shoes while grazing in open fields.

The warden said there was an upsurge of cases of snake bites in the area as locals have destroyed wild animals’ natural habitats due to an increased human encroachment in wildlife sanctuaries.

He said his department in conjunction with the county government is carrying out an awareness programme aimed at sensitizing locals on human animal conflict to reduce snake bites and other related calamities.

Alio called on the locals to work with the government in its endeavors of protecting wildlife especially by desisting from subsistence poaching.

He said locals especially in Elwak were hunting gazelles, leser akudu, antelopes and other wild game for game meat, a trend he said must stop.

The official decried high level insecurity from inter clan clashes conflict as an impediment to protecting the animals.

The region is home to Malkamari national park with a variety of wild species with river Daua cutting across the sanctuary, elephants and rhinos are not found at the park.

The region’s high temperatures and bushes favor a natural habitat for snakes hence an increase in cases of snake bites.