Kenya is keen on safeguarding its iconic carnivores while fostering community well-being. This was the rallying message at the 15th Carnivore Conference being held at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Headquarters in Nairobi that called for collective action, innovation, and partnerships to ensure that the roar of the lion, the laughter of the hyena, and the grace of the cheetah continue to define Kenya’s natural heritage for generations to come.
The two-day conference has brought together scientists, conservationists, policymakers, and community representatives to discuss practical strategies for advancing coexistence between people and Africa’s great carnivores.
Wildlife, Principal Secretary, Silvia Museiya says the government is keen on ensuring that conservation delivers tangible benefits to both people and wildlife.
Museiya says the government is implementing the National Carnivore Conservation Strategy, scaling up conflict mitigation, and strengthening partnerships that empower communities living alongside wildlife.
“Our carnivores, the lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, and hyenas are not only ecological keystones but also the lifeblood of our tourism industry. Our goal is to make Kenya a living laboratory of harmony between people and predators a nation where coexistence is not just a policy, but a way of life,” she said.
KWS Chairperson, Rtd. Walter Raria Koipaton called for stronger collaboration across all conservation actors, noting that effective coexistence requires both scientific insight and community participation.
“For conservation to succeed, it must speak the language of the people as much as that of science,” said Koipaton.
KWS Director General, Prof. Erustus Kanga said the agency is leveraging data and technology including satellite tracking, community-managed conservancies, and predator-proof enclosures, to reduce human–wildlife conflict.
“Where communities benefit directly from wildlife, tolerance for predators increases dramatically,” said Prof. Kanga.
The conference underscored Kenya’s commitment to safeguarding its iconic carnivores while fostering community well-being. It called for collective action, innovation, and partnerships to ensure that the roar of the lion, the laughter of the hyena, and the grace of the cheetah continue to define Kenya’s natural heritage for generations to come.