President William Ruto is overseeing the graduation ceremony for a new cohort of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers at the KWS Law Enforcement Academy in Manyani, Taita Taveta County.
The event marks the graduation of over 1,200 rangers who have completed six months of rigorous training in wildlife management and law enforcement. This group was recruited in April during a nationwide exercise conducted across all 47 counties.
Upon graduation, the rangers will be deployed to various national parks, reserves, and conservation areas, where they will play a critical role in combating poaching and safeguarding Kenya’s wildlife and natural heritage.
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Academy Commandant George Osuri commended the graduates, referring to them as "new guardians of the wild" and applauding their commitment to protecting both wildlife and humanity. “Rangers serve not just wildlife but humanity, bridging the gap between conservation and coexistence,” Osuri remarked.
The KWS, a state corporation under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, operates under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act of 2013. Since its establishment, the government has remained committed to conserving wildlife, their habitats, and ecosystems, including forests and water catchment areas.
KWS has achieved significant milestones in recent years, with poaching incidents reducing drastically due to the increased number of rangers and the adoption of modern technology.
To enhance its revenue and improve visitor experience, KWS has integrated its services into the eCitizen platform, a move that recently earned recognition from President Ruto. “This acknowledgment highlights our dedication to efficiency and delivering exceptional service to all visitors,” KWS noted in a statement.