Date Published:
KWS staff from Headquarters, Air Wing, Central Workshop and Southern Conservation Area were formally introduced to the Service’s new, fully constituted Board of Trustee members, Friday, 31st March, 2023.
Addressing staff, the Chairperson of the KWS Board of Trustees, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Walter Raria Koipaton, appreciated the acting Director General’s approach in presenting the new Board members to staff, reiterating this was an acceptance of a team that is bringing a helping hand to Ag. DG and the Service. “This team, which was constituted with utmost consideration for the diverse needs of the Service, bodes well for KWS, because we finally have the hand we really need to drive our conservation mandate ahead,” the Lt. General quipped.
The Chairman of the Board appreciated the Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, for fully constituting the Board of Trustees, which is an indicator of the importance of the work that the Service does. The retired Lieutenant General stressed to the new Board members that the onus was upon them to lead KWS, bearing in mind that one of their major responsibilities as trustees was to uphold the fiduciary duty of protecting all the Service’s assets. He averred that these weighty duties needed the members to internalize that a strong Board is critical to KWS’s success.
The Chairman informed the assembly that trustees would be guided fully, and adhere to all the relevant laws and regulations in Kenya. These include; the Mwongozo Code of Governance, Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, and The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, alongside any other relevant laws. The Chairman said he was aware that KWS had been operating without a functional Board for some time. As such, he was happy that the fully constituted Board would guide management in making informed and prudent decisions, and ease the pressure on the acting DG, since he now has experts to consult. “As we focus on the larger and broader decisions which affect the Service, our duty of care, independence in decision-making and loyalty to the Service will be ingrained in us from the starting line,” Chair said, adding that it was the Board’s responsibility to prioritize the Service’s interests.
Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Koipaton promised that the new Board would strive to positively influence the way KWS operates, not members’ individual requirements, in order to guarantee the Service’s survival well into the future. The Chair said the new Board assumed office when the KWS is recovering from devastating drought, challenges related to poaching, Human-Wildlife Conflict and wildfires, in a budget-constrained period. The Board therefore has the responsibility to support the acting DG and Service staff. He appreciated officers involved in extinguishing the fire in Aberdare National Park for their commendable job in saving the forest, hoping that ongoing long rains would ameliorate the damage caused by the recent inferno.
The Chair assured the assembly that the Board would not engage in intimidation; rather it would partner with Service Management and staff for the betterment of KWS, adding that the CS has impressed the necessity for teamwork and discarding divisive ‘silos mentality.’
KWS acting Director General Dr. Erustus Kanga said that he was extremely proud and excited to see a fully-operational Board. “Today, colleagues, my confidence has been tripled, because when KWS has a Board, the leadership of the Service is complete, and we have our work cut out for us,” Dr. Kanga said, adding that KWS has had competent managers over the years. The DG observed that there are staff present today who served under Dr. Leakey ‘KWS 1.0’ and Dr. Julius Kipng’etich ‘KWS 2.0,’ with the Service oscillating between these versions.
Dr. Kanga said the competent new Board showed every likelihood of leading KWS into ‘version 3.0,’ stressing that after extra efforts such as filling command gaps and increased resource mobilization, realigning the field and recruiting additional staff, the Chair’s three-year tenure would be successful. Dr. Kanga said that the Service was privileged to have Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Walter Raria Koipaton as the Chair of Board of Trustees, due to his immaculate reputation whilst serving as a General in the military.
Dr. Kanga reminded the gathering that KWS staff are trustees of Kenya’s wildlife, on behalf of the Kenyan people, and the onus is upon staff to change the narrative that wildlife belongs to KWS. He said that since his appointment in an acting capacity four months ago, the Service operations have continued to run seamlessly, challenges notwithstanding. “The Senior Management under my leadership has effected changes in the Service command structure, and filled staff gaps that had hitherto inhibited optimum service delivery,” DG said, adding that the Service was on an upward trajectory pertaining to revenue collection, with a majority of parks and reserves - as well as facilities domiciled therein - recording improved conservation fees collections at points of entry, after the shockwaves of Covid-19.
The Director General commended staff for their resilience and commitment to their duties, assuring the Chair and Board members that under their guidance, management would prioritize staff welfare, because Human Capital in any organization is the greatest resource. Dr. Kanga informed the Board that KWS staff are envied and respected the world over, explaining that immediate respect was guaranteed when representing the Service in any fora. “It is indeed a privilege to be entrusted with what defines the face of our nation – those beautiful, majestic, yet fragile wildlife – a product sought by all the tourists,” the DG stated.
Dr. Kanga expressed gratitude for the recent rains over most parts of Kenya, after a drought that ravaged the country for months. The Service had to provide water and fodder for the wildlife in areas hardest hit by drought to minimize mortalities. The DG was optimistic that the rains would continue, to enable regeneration of vegetation and minimize cases of Human Wildlife Conflict occasioned by wildlife straying into areas occupied by communities. Dr. Kanga said that he had personally visited most conservation areas, with repeat visits to those areas reporting emerging challenges, noting that the zeal demonstrated by staff was impressive, even in the face of challenges. He promised to strive to meet and exceed all expectations to realize the Service mandate of wildlife protection and conservation, as he thanked the Chair for accepting to lead KWS.
The members of the fully-constituted KWS Board of Trustees are: Principal Secretary, State Department for Wildlife, Hon. Sylvia Museiya, represented by an alternate, John Chelimo; Daniel Ndolo, representing the National Treasury; James Wang’ombe, Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Inspectorate of State Corporations; Rosemary Kuraru, representing the Inspector General, Kenya Police Service; John Mokumoni, Office of the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution; Peter Frederick Moll, the youngest Board member; Nelly Kiptoo, Shadia Munini Faryd; Moses Njenga Chege and Jennifer Mwangangi.
