Nairobi: Residents of Loima in Turkana County have raised concerns over their safety following a series of hyena attacks on their livestock. The community is demanding compensation for their losses and urging government agencies to swiftly investigate the matter to facilitate immediate payments.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Turkana County authorities have responded promptly by launching investigations into claims that several livestock were attacked in Loima Sub-County. Led by the Director of Natural Resources and Environment, Phoebe Ekal, the county team initiated a fact-finding mission at Lokwatubwa, where most incidents have been reported, involving attacks on camels, donkeys, and goats.
"The purpose of this visit was to get a clear picture of the situation on the ground, listen to the concerns of affected families, and assess the extent of the damage caused by the hyenas," stated Ekal during the visit. Community members recounted how the predators have been breaking into kraals at night, killing multiple animals, and instilling fear among households.
Pastoralist Lobuin Lorinyok from Lokwatubwa expressed the community's plight, saying, "We are suffering. Hyenas have become a daily threat. We are losing animals almost every night. We need help." Ekal assured residents that their concerns are being taken seriously and emphasized that the Directorate will collaborate with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and other stakeholders to explore immediate and long-term solutions to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.
"We understand the impact this has on the community, and we are committed to working with partners to respond appropriately," added Ekal. Deputy Director of Natural Resources, Pauline Pusiye, urged the community to remain patient as investigations and stakeholder engagements commence, stating, "We urge the community to remain patient as we coordinate with all relevant bodies to ensure the safety of both people and their livestock."
The County wildlife compensation committee convened in July 2025 to assess victims of human-wildlife related conflicts eligible for compensation from the national government. The meeting addressed 103 pending claims, including human death, human injury, attacks on livestock, and destruction of crops by wildlife. Out of these, 35 were pending claims dating back to 2014, while 68 new cases had not been previously presented to the committee.
County commissioner Julius Kavita reiterated the government's commitment to compensating victims of human-wildlife conflict, urging residents to provide accurate and truthful information regarding such incidents. Challenges in the compensation process include the lack of documentary and pictorial evidence in cases of wildlife attacks.