The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Council of Governors (CoG) have unveiled an ambitious joint initiative to breathe new life into 18 dormant National Reserves across Kenya, aiming to boost the wildlife economy and promote sustainable tourism.
In a high-level meeting, KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga and CoG CEO Ms. Mary Mwiti, alongside County Executives and Tourism Chiefs, finalized a framework to restore and sustainably manage these reserves. The initiative aligns with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), focusing on job creation, tourism growth, and improved community livelihoods.
“This partnership is a game-changer for Kenya’s wildlife economy,” Prof. Kanga said. “By reviving these reserves, we’re not just protecting our natural heritage but also unlocking economic opportunities for local communities.”
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The program goes beyond economic goals, emphasizing biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, secure wildlife corridors, and reduced human-wildlife conflict. Key steps include assessing the current state of the reserves, developing management protocols, training county rangers, enacting supportive county legislation, and rebranding the reserves to attract tourists.
Ms. Mwiti highlighted the collaborative spirit of the initiative. “This is about counties and KWS working hand-in-hand to ensure our reserves thrive, benefiting both people and wildlife,” she said.
The KWS-CoG partnership signals a bold step toward sustainable development, with plans to transform Kenya’s National Reserves into vibrant hubs of tourism and conservation. “We are awakening Kenya’s wildlife economy for generations to come,” Prof. Kanga added.
