Deputy Director of the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS), Dr. Omondi is also the Kenyan government’s representative to CITES. It is generally acknowledged that Kenya runs one of the most effective anti-poaching efforts in Africa. KWS undertakes conservation and management of wildlife resources outside protected areas in collaboration with stakeholders.
It is their goal to work with others to conserve, protect and sustainably manage wildlife resources. The community wildlife program of KWS in collaboration with others encourages biodiversity conservation by communities living on land essential to wildlife, such as wildlife corridors and dispersal lands outside parks and reserves. The premise is that “if people benefit from wildlife and other natural resources, then they will take care of these resources.”
KWS manages about 8 per cent of the total landmass of the country. This land contains 22 National Parks, 28 National Reserves and 5 National Sanctuaries. Also under KWS management are 4 Marine National Parks and 6 Marine National Reserves at the Coast. In addition, KWS manages 125 field stations outside protected areas.
Beyond wildlife habitats, KWS manages the parks and stations feature office and residential blocks, training institutes, workshop areas, research centres, bandas, hotels, shops and restaurants, boreholes, road networks, airstrips and related plants and equipment.