Forum addresses wildlife conservation issues

KWS Ag. Director General, Mr. William Kiprono addressing media after the end of a joint forum for Wildlife conservation NGOs at KWS headquarters in Nairobi.

Kenya Wildlife Service recently held a meeting with stakeholders in the wildlife sector to foster a cordial working relationship and share experiences on issues of common concern.  

The sensitisation meeting, attended by over 50 representatives of various wildlife sector NGOs, focused on four thematic areas, namely:

·     Partnership between NGOs and the government in the implementation of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, which came into force on January 10, 2014.

KWS acting Director General, Mr. William Kiprono, who addressed the forum expressed gratitude to the NGOs officials for supporting wildlife conservation efforts; singling out de-snaring, translocation of wildlife, removal of invasive species in protected areas, and resource mobilisation.

Other than poaching, Mr. Kiprono said the country is loosing a lot of animals as a result of unscrupulous traders who are killing animals for bush meat. He blamed the rapid loss of wildlife habitat on the high rate of crimes against wildlife and exhorted the public to join KWS in conserving and addressing issues that affect wildlife. Mr. Kiprono said KWS as the lead conservation body in the country has accurate and up-to-date data concerning wildlife numbers. He asked anybody with enquiries regarding this to contact the Deputy Director in charge of Species Conservation and Management for updated information.

The Director of Wildlife in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Mr. Stephen Manegene, said it was regrettable stakeholders in the wildlife sector are not able to agree on a myriad of issues, including carrying out of wildlife censuses.

He asked NGOs to work closely with KWS and the ministry so that information from the country regarding critical issues of wildlife can be standard, accurate and timely. “Access to information is enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution and the Government will ensure this is enforced by all sectors”, he said.

Mrs Munira Bashir, a representative of one of the NGOs, The Nature Conservancy, said there was an urgent need to put in place subsidiary legislation to operationalize the Wildlife Act. She said stakeholders had identified about 26 guidelines necessary to make the Act operational. She said The Nature Conservancy would spearhead the development of five of the guidelines and called on other organisations to support the rest.