By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, June 23, 2026 - A Mandera family has finally received Ksh770,000 in compensation for injuries sustained by their son in a snake bite incident, ending a four-year delay after intervention by the Commission on Administrative Justice.
The State Department for Wildlife processed and paid the outstanding balance to the rightful beneficiary following an inquiry by the Office of the Ombudsman into what it termed “inordinate delay.”
The case stems from June 2020, when A.H.M, then a four-year-old minor, was bitten by a snake in Kubihalo Sub-location, Mandera County. His father, Mr. H.M.H, lodged a claim with the then Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife through the Kenya Wildlife Service.
The Ministerial Wildlife Compensation Management Committee approved compensation of Ksh1.5 million. However, the family only received Ksh730,000. An outstanding balance of Ksh770,000 remained unpaid, with the last disbursement made in 2024.
Mr. H.M.H told the Commission that repeated follow-ups and visits to KWS offices in Mandera failed to secure the balance. He said the funds were critical for his son’s ongoing care and that the delay had caused “significant emotional and financial hardship.”
“Please note that travelling from Mandera to Nairobi is very costly and at times I stay in hotels for even three weeks trying to follow up on the payment at the Ministry and then back to Kenya Wildlife, and then return to the Ministry,” he said. “This has caused a lot of financial strain on my family and me, coupled with the medical challenges of my son, who needs constant care.”
The Commission took up the matter with the KWS Director General, who clarified that compensation for wildlife-related losses is administered by the State Department for Wildlife. The Commission then wrote to the Principal Secretary, State Department for Wildlife.
Investigations established that the outstanding balance had been erroneously paid to a different person, Mr. A.H.A, whose own claim had already been fully settled. The PS directed KWS to recover the funds from Mr. A.H.A or institute administrative action against him.
After the Commission’s follow-up on April 17, 2026, the Principal Secretary confirmed on June 5, 2026 that the compensation had been processed and paid to the rightful beneficiary.
“The Department has duly compensated Mr. H.M.H., the beneficiary of the claimant A.H.M. (minor), for injuries sustained as a result of a wildlife-related incident. The compensation has been processed and paid accordingly,” the PS stated.
Mr. H.M.H has since confirmed receipt of the payment, closing a complaint that began in 2020.
The Commission on Administrative Justice, also known as the Office of the Ombudsman, handles complaints of maladministration in the public sector.
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