Ruto presides over graduation of new KWS rangers

The event, taking place at the KWS Law Enforcement Academy in Manyani, Taita Taveta County will see over 1, 200 rangers graduate after undergoing a six-month intense training in wildlife management and law enforcement.

This new batch of rangers was recruited in April this year in an exercise conducted across the 47 counties.

Following the passing-out, the rangers will be deployed to work in various national parks, reserves, and conservation areas across the country.

They will be expected to bolster the ongoing efforts to protect the country’s wildlife by combating poaching activities and ensuring the sustainability of the natural heritage.

Academy’s commandant George Osuri honored the “new guardians of the wild” for their unwavering dedication to protecting both wildlife and humanity.

Highlighting the vital role rangers play, Osuri said;

“Rangers serve not just wildlife but humanity, bridging the gap between conservation and coexistence.”

KWS is a state corporation under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife established by an act of Parliament; Wildlife Conservation and Management Act CAP 376, of 1989, now repealed and replaced by the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013.

At independence, the government committed itself to conserving wildlife for posterity with all the means at its disposal, including the places animals lived, forests and water catchment areas.

It conserves and manages national parks, wildlife conservation areas, and sanctuaries under its jurisdiction.

The agency has in the recent past realised key achievements with poaching drastically going down due to the increase in the number of rangers and the use of modern technology.

As a way of boosting its revenue and enhancing its visitor experience, KWS has onboarded its services to the eCitizen platform.

It is through this initiative that it was recently recognised by President William Ruto.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to improving efficiency and delivering exceptional service to all visitors,” it said.