Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera on Wednesday called for urgent action by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) after lions escaped their park and began roaming freely within the Mackonon estate in Kwale.
While addressing the Senate Committee on Land and Environment, the lawmaker highlighted the serious risks posed by the big cats to the area residents.
Chimera, while underscoring the need for proper wildlife management, urged the committee to investigate how the lions escaped their natural habitat without the knowledge of officers from the KWS.
The vocal senator also emphasised the need for a comprehensive assessment of the damage inflicted by the lions on the local community, calling for clarification on whether compensation has been offered to those affected.
Additionally, the Chimera called on the committee to establish whether community engagement initiatives focused on conservation education were in place.
Chimera further called on the committee to outline the national strategies currently in place to manage human-wildlife conflict, ensuring the safety of both local communities and the wildlife they share their environment with.
To immediately address the matter, the lawmaker proposed a community engagement programme between the KWS officers and the residents.
According to Chimera, such programmes could foster a better understanding of the importance of coexistence with wildlife as well as encourage residents to report incidents promptly to mitigate further risks of damage, injury, or fatalities.
Cases of lions escaping their habitat to roam in estates across the country are not new, in May this year, KWS officers were forced to intervene after three lions were spotted roaming in Lang'ata estate in Nairobi.
In its report, the wildlife service disclosed that it received reports about the three lions from a section of the members of the public after the animals were allegedly sighted near Langata Women's Prison.
According to KWS, a Problem Animal Control team was promptly mobilized and conducted a thorough search of the area. However, after a long night of searching for the wild animals, the officers' efforts to intervene hit the rocks after they were unable to spot the lions.
"KWS continues to monitor the situation closely and remains on high alert. Ensuring the safety of the public is our top priority. "We urge residents to stay vigilant and report any wildlife sightings to the KWS 24-hour hotline number 0800 597 000 or WhatsApp 0726 610509 for immediate intervention," KWS noted in a statement.
