Flagging Off of The East And Central Africa Elephant Campaign Walk – 29/7/2023

The Cabinet Secretary (CS) for the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage (MoTWH), Hon. Peninah Malonza, has today flagged off and participated in the 16^th edition of the elephant awareness campaign walk dubbed “East and Central Africa Campaign Walk”, by the Elephant Neighbors Center (ENC).

“This walk signifies a crucial step in amplifying public education and awareness, especially in a country like Kenya, where 50% of the populace are youths, a well-educated and youthful population that holds the key to reducing poaching and protecting our wildlife.” Said CS Malonza.

The walking campaign is unique as the team will traverse the least understood Mt. Elgon Conservation Area (MECA), Mbale, and Soroti in Uganda—a region where elephant populations were once decimated due to political instability but are now showing signs of recovery.

The team will also pass through other parks in Uganda, including Murchison Falls and Kidepo National Parks, as well as venture into the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country with enormous biodiversity conservation potential and eco-regions.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about the plight of African elephants, engage local communities in wildlife conservation, and enhance people’s understanding of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013.

“The Kenyan government is committed to wildlife conservation and is revising laws to recognize wildlife conservation as a land use and develop a wildlife conservation policy, which has been a missing link in our efforts for decades. Improving wildlife conservation efforts will not only protect our natural heritage but also generate more job opportunities and support grassroots businesses, aligning with our government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” added Malonza.

The CS also commended ENC for its relentless efforts in promoting conservation educational services, which remain a priority for the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage

“Diminishing space for conservation poses a challenge to sustainable wildlife management due to human-wildlife conflicts. We must continue to partner and collaborate to sustain conservation efforts and campaigns,” said Malonza.

Also present was the Deputy Governor for Murang’a County, H.E Stephen Munania, Senator Karen Nyamu, Kenya Wildlife Service Ag. Director General, Dr. Erastus Kanga, Executive Director of Elephant Neighbors Center, Jim Nyamu, and representatives from partner organizations among others.