new equipment helps KWS community rangers protect iconic species

With funding from the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) IFAW is collaborating with the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to support, interdict, investigate and prosecute wildlife crimes to help save Kenya’s iconic wildlife. The goal of the project is to secure wildlife on key transboundary community and nationally gazette lands, as well as prevent wildlife trafficking through training and operational support and mentoring with local partners.

New equipment supports wildlife enforcement operations

Between August 2020 and July 2021, IFAW handed over six motorbikes, five printers and five desktop computers at a total cost of USD 17,941 to KWS. The equipment will aid KWS in processing data that will subsequently be transformed into actionable intelligence products that drive enforcement operations and reduce or prevent the illegal killing and trade of wildlife.

Over the same period, IFAW provided rations for 77 community rangers within the Olgulului Ololarashi Group Ranch and 17 community rangers from the Ilkimpa Community Conservation Area. They undertake field patrols to the community lands that surround the Amboseli National Park and Ilkimpa section of the Loita Forest.

AWF also plays a critical role in the implementation of this project, focusing on providing prosecutorial and equipment support to KWS and facilitating the training of key law enforcement personnel, investigators and prosecutors.

Speaking on behalf of the KWS Director General, Prof. Charles Musyoki - Parks and Reserves Director, said that in 2019, KWS began a transformation journey focusing on three key pillars: Conservation, Collaboration and Enterprise. “These pillars are supported by six strategic objectives with the most relevant one being to strengthen law enforcement capacity aimed at stopping serious threats to wildlife species due to illegal activities including wildlife trafficking and associated poaching syndicates to feed illegal markets. Past experience indicates that focused wildlife law enforcement efforts coupled with other conservation approaches can accelerate species protection efforts.”

James Isiche, Regional Director for IFAW East Africa, noted that IFAW has been supporting diverse activities geared towards forging collaborations between the local community, KWS and like-minded organizations in order to generate win-win opportunities for people and wildlife. Over the last nine years, IFAW has invested in excess of USD 2,000,000 in Amboseli on infrastructure, equipment, capacity building, and operational support, as well as securing 26,000 acres of land at Kitenden for conservation.