Meru Governor Urges Legalization of Milking and Slaughtering Elephants, Giraffes
Meru, Kenya – May 26, 2025 – Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma has urged President William Ruto to consider amending Kenya’s wildlife laws to allow communities living near national parks to milk and slaughter wild animals such as elephants and giraffes for local benefit.
Governor Mutuma made the appeal on Monday during the official launch of the third phase of the Human-Wildlife Conflict Compensation Fund in Meru County. The event was attended by President Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, and several Cabinet Secretaries, including Rebecca Miano (Tourism), Hanna Cheptumo (Gender and Culture), and Geoffrey Ruku (Public Service).
“We’re asking you to give us permission to start milking elephants and giraffes,” Mutuma said, eliciting both laughter and murmurs from the audience. He argued that while Meru hosts tourist attractions like Meru National Park and Mount Kenya, local communities derive limited tangible benefits from these natural resources.
Highlighting a perceived disparity in wildlife policy, Mutuma questioned why livestock such as cows, goats, and sheep—valued for their milk and meat—are preferred over wildlife, which remains protected from local use. “Our people rely on domestic animals because they provide daily economic value. Why not also benefit from elephants, zebras, gazelles, and giraffes?” he posed.
His remarks come amid mounting frustrations in wildlife-adjacent areas over increasing human-wildlife conflicts that result in fatalities, injuries, and property damage. The event’s purpose—the launch of a fund to compensate victims of such conflicts—underscored the seriousness of the issue.
Responding to the concerns, President Ruto acknowledged the challenges faced by affected communities and reiterated his administration’s efforts to streamline compensation procedures.
“From 2013 to 2022, KSh 2.7 billion was paid out. But in just the last two years, we’ve paid KSh 2.8 billion,” Ruto noted. “We’ve digitised the entire compensation system to fast-track claims. Both previous and current victims will be compensated without delays.”
According to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), its 2024–2028 Strategic Plan has so far recorded 3,857 human-wildlife conflict cases, including 40 deaths and 77 serious injuries, along with extensive losses to crops and livestock.
While Governor Mutuma’s remarks may have been partly rhetorical, they highlight a deeper tension between wildlife conservation policies and local economic realities. It remains to be seen whether the national government will entertain proposals for a more utilitarian approach to wildlife management.
As the debate continues, stakeholders await further policy discussions on how to balance conservation, tourism, and the welfare of communities living at the frontlines of human-wildlife conflict.
Meru Governor Urges Legalization of Milking and Slaughtering Elephants, Giraffes