The government has issued a firm warning to individuals and groups who threaten or attack wildlife rangers, declaring that such actions will be met with the full force of the law.
Speaking on Friday during the passing-out parade of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) cadet officers at the KWS Law Enforcement Academy in Manyani, Taita Taveta County, Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki said the State was fully committed to safeguarding officers deployed on the frontlines of conservation.
“Rangers will be protected by the law, and those who threaten or attack them will face justice,” he said, adding, “At the same time, the conservation authority must always be matched with accountability and respect for human rights. The rule of law must protect both people and wildlife.”
The remarks came as 147 newly trained cadets joined the ranks of Kenya’s conservation officers after nine months of paramilitary training, marking a significant boost to the country’s wildlife protection capacity.
The officers, drawn from across the country, are part of a broader government effort to modernize conservation, strengthen security in protected areas and respond to rising threats ranging from poaching to human–wildlife conflict.
Describing the graduation as a historic milestone, the Deputy President told the cadets they were joining “a younger, more agile, and more capable conservation force” tasked with securing Kenya’s landscapes, protecting communities and visitors, and supporting protected areas and conservancies nationwide.
He noted that over the past three years the government, through the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife and KWS, had implemented some of the most ambitious, science-led, and community-centered reforms in the country’s conservation history.
He said these reforms included the deployment of elite ranger units, expansion of the conservation workforce and modern surveillance using AI-enabled systems, drones, satellite-linked patrol tools, and modern digital radio networks, alongside upgraded rapid-response capabilities and intelligence-led operations.
According to the Deputy President, investments in community livelihoods and awareness programs had also helped reduce human–wildlife conflict while strengthening local ownership of conservation efforts.
He added that the government was investing heavily in ranger welfare, including recruitment, specialized training and housing for officers stationed in remote and high-risk areas.
“With the recruitment of 1,500 rangers and cadets, improved welfare, specialized training, and a clear housing policy for officers in remote and high-risk stations, we are building a professional, motivated, and highly skilled conservation force, who will be protected by the law,” he said, stressing that officer safety remained a priority as enforcement operations intensified.
At the same time, the Deputy President cautioned that the expanded mandate and powers of rangers must be exercised within the confines of the law.
“The rule of law must protect both people and wildlife,” he said, in a clear signal that abuses would not be tolerated even as enforcement was strengthened.
The graduation comes against the backdrop of renewed growth in the tourism sector, which the government says is closely tied to improved security and conservation outcomes. The Deputy President said wildlife was ‘not only our heritage’ but also ‘a symbol of our sovereignty, a pillar of our global identity, and a powerful engine of our economy.’
He disclosed that tourism revenue grew strongly in 2024, restoring global confidence in Kenya, and that the country had set a target of welcoming five million visitors by 2027.
“From last year, the number of tourists visiting Kenya has increased with about half a million and we know that this year, the numbers will rise even further. Revenue from tourism has also increased, showing the dedication that our KWS officers have put in place in protecting the wildlife,” he said, attributing the gains to the work of KWS officers in protecting wildlife.
The Deputy President said the government was diversifying tourism beyond traditional safaris into culture, sports, events, adventure and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) tourism, warning that tourism depends on security and stability and could not be sustained without safety for wildlife, visitors, and communities.
He outlined major conservation initiatives, including the approval of the Nairobi National Park–Kapiti Wildlife Corridor and the expansion of the Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary from 92 square kilometres to 3,200 square kilometres, making it the largest rhino sanctuary in the world.
He also announced plans to establish a National Wildlife Protection and Anti-Poaching Modernization Framework, integrating technology, intelligence and cross-border cooperation to dismantle international wildlife crime networks.
Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano said the graduation came at a strategic moment for the sector, noting that the officers would strengthen enforcement presence and improve the safety of visitors and communities living near protected areas.
She said the recruitment, the first in more than a decade, directly addressed long-standing capacity gaps and brought in a younger, agile, and technologically capable cadre of officers equipped to confront emerging conservation and security threats.
“These officers will be frontline implementers of the Tourism Blueprint 2030 and the Wildlife Strategy 2030,” Miano said, adding that their work would support species recovery programs, secure wildlife corridors and reinforce Kenya’s position as a safe, competitive, and sustainable nature-based tourism destination.
She emphasized that conservation could not be delivered by government alone and required partnerships with county governments, communities, the private sector and international partners, with the new officers expected to act as ambassadors of trust on the ground.
KWS Director General Prof. Erastus Kanga described the parade as a key milestone in the Service’s transformation, saying the 250 officers passing out, including 103 junior officers, represented deliberate investment in a professional and future-ready conservation agency.
As the cadets prepared to take up their new roles, the Deputy President urged them to serve with integrity and courage, assuring them of government support.
“The government stands firmly behind you and your welfare, your training, your housing, and your mission. As I look at you today, I see the future of conservation in Kenya, as envisioned in our Constitution,” he said.
By Arnold Linga Masila
