Africa-Press – Kenya. DP Kithure Kindiki speaks when presiding over the passing out parade of cadets and junior officers at the KWS Law Enforcement Academy in Manyani, Taita Taveta county, December 19, 2025. /KWS
Wildlife park fee collections are projected to surpass the Sh10 billion mark by the end of the year, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said.
Kindiki cited sustained reforms in conservation, security and tourism management, which he said are beginning to yield measurable returns.
He said the revenue outlook reflected renewed confidence in Kenya’s protected areas, improved security within parks and conservancies and stronger institutional governance at KWS.
“Wildlife park fee collection is on course to hit Sh11 billion this year,” Kindiki said, linking the growth to reforms that have tightened systems, reduced leakages and enhanced the visitor experience across national parks and reserves.
The Deputy President spoke on Friday at the Kenya Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Academy in Manyani, Taita Taveta county, where he presided over the passing out parade of 147 cadet officers and 103 junior officers.Deputy President Kithure Kindiki inspects a guard of honour during the passing out parade of 147 cadet officers and 103 junior officers at Manyani. /KWS
Kindiki said that conservation was no longer a peripheral issue but a central pillar of economic recovery, tourism growth and community livelihoods.
The DP said the graduation of the 250 officers was a critical investment in safeguarding the gains being recorded, noting that law enforcement capacity remained central to curbing wildlife crime and securing protected areas.
He underscored the role of disciplined, well-trained rangers in protecting biodiversity while also supporting peaceful coexistence between communities and wildlife.
The passing out parade marked what KWS described as a milestone in the ongoing transformation of the service, reflecting strengthened security architecture, expanded ranger forces, community-centred conservation approaches and science-led reforms.
According to the service, the reforms are designed to modernise KWS into a professional, accountable and future-ready institution capable of responding to evolving conservation challenges.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano highlighted the growing responsibility being placed on frontline officers, particularly in tackling human-wildlife conflict and combating wildlife crime, which remains a persistent threat to conservation and rural livelihoods.
The CS said the newly trained officers would be deployed to areas of greatest need, where their skills would support both enforcement and community engagement.
KWS Director General Prof Erustus Kanga said the service had deliberately invested in building a professional and disciplined workforce to match the complexity of modern conservation.
He noted that training now integrates paramilitary skills, leadership development, technology and community relations to ensure officers are effective in the field while remaining accountable to the public.
Commandant of the KWS Law Enforcement Academy George Osuri said the officers had undergone months of rigorous paramilitary and leadership training and were fully prepared to take up their responsibilities.
He said the academy had placed emphasis on ethics, teamwork and operational readiness to ensure graduates meet the demands of conservation and protection duties across the country.
As they step into service, KWS said the new officers embody the future of conservation in Kenya—people-centred, accountable and rooted in coexistence and sustainability.
The service added that strengthening ranger numbers and professionalism was essential not only for protecting wildlife but also for sustaining tourism revenues that support conservation and national development.
Kindiki said the government would continue backing KWS reforms, arguing that strong institutions, secure parks and empowered communities were indispensable to protecting Kenya’s natural heritage while unlocking its full economic value.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki pins rank insignia on a cadet officer during the passing out parade of 147 cadet officers and 103 junior officers at Manyani.Cadet officer salutes after receiving a rank insignia from Deputy President Kithure Kindiki during the passing out parade at Manyani.
DP Kithure Kindiki and CS Rebecca Miano with some of the 250 officers who graduated at the Kenya Wildlife Service Law Enforcement Academy in Manyani.Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano.
