CS Miano: Kenya is committed to conserving wildlife

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano (centre) during celebrations to mark 2025 World Wildlife Day at Kiborgoch Wildlife Wetlands and Community Conservancy in Baringo County/HANDOUT.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to wildlife conservation.

Speaking during celebrations to mark 2025 World Wildlife Day at Kiborgoch Wildlife Wetlands and Community Conservancy in Baringo, Miano said Kenya will continue to treat wildlife as a “national treasure.”

She highlighted that wildlife plays a vital role in driving economic growth through tourism, agriculture, and ecosystem services.

“Conservation aligns with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Vision 2030, ensuring that natural resources benefit present and future generations,” she said.

Leaders, conservationists, and local communities gathered at the conservancy for the event themed “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People & Planet.”

The event also marked the launch of the National Single Species Action Plan for the Grey Crowned Crane (2024–2035), a strategic roadmap to protect this endangered bird, alongside recognition of students who excelled in the #WorldWildlifeDay2025 essay competition, showcasing youth engagement in conservation advocacy. 

Principal Secretary State Department for Wildlife Silvia Museiya also attended the even, which was hosted by Baringo Governor Benjamin Chesire Cheboi.

KWS Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga, area leaders, and conservation stakeholders were also present.

The event highlighted Kenya’s dedication to safeguarding its wildlife heritage while advancing sustainable development. 

The celebrations coincided with the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a critical global agreement to regulate wildlife trade and prevent species extinction.

Cheboi echoed the need for community-led conservation efforts, advocating for stronger financing mechanisms, climate resilience strategies, and sustainable tourism models to uplift local livelihoods.

Kanga praised grassroots initiatives such as the Ilchamus Community Conservation Group for their work in restoring degraded ecosystems, creating eco-tourism opportunities, and demonstrating how wildlife conservation can fuel economic progress.

He also highlighted ongoing #WorldWildlifeDay2025 activities across Kenya’s conservancies, urging national unity in protecting biodiversity. 

Local leaders called for urgent action to address challenges such as delayed compensation for human-wildlife conflicts, inadequate tourism infrastructure, and climate change impacts threatening both communities and ecosystems.

Kenya’s wildlife remains a cornerstone of its cultural identity, ecological balance, and economic prosperity.

By integrating conservation into national development frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Kenya continues to champion a future where people and wildlife thrive together.