Director General

Prof. Erustus Kanga PhD, C.B.S., EBS is the Director General of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and a distinguished conservationist with over 20 years of experience in biodiversity conservation, climate change vulnerability assessment and mapping, bio-enterprises, and community livelihood support. He has built a long and impactful career dedicated to the protection and sustainable management of Kenya’s natural heritage.

Prof. Kanga has an extensive trajectory in biodiversity conservation, including five (5) years of service as Secretary for Wildlife at the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage, and sixteen (16) years of service at the Kenya Wildlife Service, where he was responsible for Biodiversity Research and Monitoring across Kenya’s protected areas. His work has significantly contributed to evidence-based conservation policy, ecological monitoring, and the integration of conservation with community development.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions to national conservation efforts, Prof. Kanga was awarded the Head of State Commendation (HSC) in 2017 for distinguished service in the field of biodiversity conservation. Further acknowledging his exemplary leadership and sustained service to the nation, he was awarded the C.B.S. (Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear)—the highest class within the Order of the Burning Spear—on 12th December 2025 by the President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto.

Prof. Kanga holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Natural Resources Conservation from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, awarded in 2011. He has authored over 30 scientific publications and continues to be driven by a deep passion for biodiversity conservation, sustainable natural resource management, and the advancement of conservation science in Kenya.

Director - Wildlife & Community Service

Deputy Director Human Resource & Administration

Valentain Kanani

Deputy Director Wildlife Protection Division

Deputy Director Infrastructure & Facilities Management

Director Wildlife Security

He was seconded to KWS as the Director Wildlife Security from National Police Service where he rose through the ranks and was serving as Staff Officer Operations at KPS headquarters. He holds Master of Arts in Leadership and Security Management (KU) and Bachelor of Arts in Security Management and Policing Studies (KU). He has attended various managerial and leadership courses both locally and abroad including Large Scale Infrastructure Project Security management course at PPSU (China), Training Building course at CoESPU (Italy), Conflict Analysis and Prevention course at HPSS, Regional Senior Mission Leaders Course at IPSTC, and Strategic Leadership and Command course by College of Policing (UK).

His experience in security sector span over 3 decades and he initially served in GSU, later as an instructor at National Police College, Kiganjo, County Police Commander in various counties and on secondment as Head of Operations at National Counter Terrorism Centre for 7 years.

Ag. Corporation Secretary