Equity Bank Distributes Ksh 5.4 Billion Wildlife Conservation Fund

Equity Bank has announced a partnership with the Kenyan Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to manage the distribution of Ksh 5.4 billion (USD 47 million) from the Wildlife Conservation Fund. 

The National Treasury has established the Wildlife Conservation Fund, which targets over 300,000 victims of human-wildlife conflict for the 2023–24 financial year.

Equity Bank says it has received an initial disbursement of Ksh 960 million (USD 8.4 million) to begin compensating victims. The remaining Kshs. 4.44 billion (USD 38.6 million) will be distributed throughout the year.

Equity Bank has pledged support for the government’s goal of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.

Equity has planted over 25.2 million trees to date. 

President Ruto Launches Compensation Scheme

President William Ruto also launched a separate human-wildlife conflict compensation scheme during the event. 

The scheme addresses outstanding claims from 2014–2023, with Ksh 3 billion (USD 26 million) earmarked for disbursement within 60 days.

Additionally, President Ruto announced a project to erect 350 kilometres of electric fencing around national parks and game reserves in six counties. 

Laikipia County will benefit from a 100-kilometre fence along the Lariak Forest Wildlife Conservancy.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife (2020) Report of the Task Force on Human-Wildlife Conflict Compensation Schemes in Kenya, the top five counties with the highest reported incidences of HWC include Taita Taveta, Narok, Lamu, Kajiado, and Laikipia. 

The report says the top 10 wildlife species responsible for the most HWC incidences are elephants, buffaloes, hyenas, hippos, leopards, baboons, monkeys, snakes, and crocodiles.