The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has urged the counties of Garissa and Wajir to revitalise and establish wildlife protected areas to enhance conservation efforts and promote tourism.
KWS Director General Erustus Kanga highlighted the rich biodiversity in these arid and semi-arid regions, emphasizing their importance for Kenya's wildlife and ecosystems. In a letter to Wajir Governor Nathif Jama, Kanga noted that Wajir is home to several threatened species including the critically endangered hirola antelope and reticulated giraffes, as well as Grevy’s zebra, African wild dogs, cheetahs, lions, leopards, gerenuks, Grant’s gazelles, Beisa oryx, and Somali ostriches.
He warned that growing human populations, habitat degradation, and climate variability are increasing pressures on wildlife habitats and pastoral livelihoods. Kanga recommended the establishment of game reserves in Wajir to protect critical habitats and support sustainable development, which could also create jobs and generate revenue through ecotourism and conservation enterprises.
In Garissa, Kanga called for urgent intervention to restore and operationalise existing reserves such as Rahole, Arawale, and Boni National Reserves. He also encouraged the county to explore new protected areas and community conservancies to better safeguard biodiversity and wildlife corridors.
Garissa hosts key species including the reticulated giraffe, hirola hartebeest, Grevy’s zebra, African wild dog, cheetah, elephant, lion, and leopard. Wildlife habitats here are found in national reserves and community conservancies like Kamuthe and Ishaqbini Hirola. With about 95% of Garissa’s population relying on pastoralism, Kanga emphasized the potential for wildlife-based tourism to complement local livelihoods.
KWS stands ready to provide technical assistance to both counties in developing conservation strategies and tourism initiatives. The agency stresses that coordinated conservation efforts are essential not only for protecting wildlife but also for creating economic opportunities for communities living alongside these animals.
