World Wildlife Day – 3/3/2023

The Cabinet Secretary (CS), Hon. Peninah Malonza, has today led Ministry officials and the wildlife fraternity in marking World Wildlife Day at the Amboseli National Park, Kajiado County.

This year’s theme is ‘Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation’ and the celebrations kicked off with a Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Cultural Ceremony at Enkongunarok Village, an initiative by the Kenya Tourism Board aimed at championing elephant conservation in Kenya.

“This initiative captures the partnership aspect since it offers individuals and organisations the opportunity to participate in Kenya’s wildlife conservation efforts by naming and adopting baby elephants at an agreed fee,” said Malonza.

In line with the presidential directive of planting 15 billion trees by 2032, the CS later on initiated a tree planting exercise of 300 tree seedlings at the 1sq km electric fenced Oltukai enclosure, to help restore the degraded area.

As part of the activities of the day, the CS later flagged off the donation of water tanks and foodstuff to the communities surrounding Amboseli National Park. She also handed over emergency supplementary feeds for the wildlife in Amboseli National Park.

The CS also officially launched the National Elephant Action Plan 2023-2033. The plan is a comprehensive and strategic framework that outlines measures to be taken to conserve and manage elephant populations and their habitats.

Speaking during the official function, the CS appealed to Kenyans to continue to recognize the intrinsic value of wildlife and the many economic and social benefits that we derive from wildlife.

“My Ministry encourages the continued provision of incentives to communities willing to facilitate the use of their land for wildlife corridors, dispersal areas, and other environmental conservation initiatives. The long-term approach will be to explore ways to work with communities, conservation partners and other stakeholders in the tourism industry to attract appropriate tourism activities in conservancies,” added the CS.

Also in attendance was the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Dr. Alfred Mutua, chairperson Parliamentary Committee on tourism and wildlife, Hon. Kareke Mbiuki, Kajiado South Member of Parliament, Hon. Parashina Samuel, the Secretary Administration Wildlife, John Chelimo, the Secretary Administration Tourism, Michael Tialal, Ag. Director General, Kenya Wildlife Service, Dr. Erustus Kanga, and other Ministry officials.