Wildlife Research & Training Institute Kenya, Kenyatta Avenue, Naivasha (2026)

13/06/2026

Accurate data is the foundation of effective wildlife conservation. From protecting endangered species and reducing human-wildlife conflict to guiding land-use planning and climate adaptation, access to reliable wildlife information is crucial.

The country is now taking a major step towards strengthening evidence-based conservation through the establishment of a comprehensive National Wildlife Database.

To advance this initiative, the Institute convened a two-day stakeholder validation meeting aimed at operationalizing the national database and initiating the migration of wildlife datasets from partner institutions into a centralized platform.

The initiative is anchored in Section 60 of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, which mandates the Institute, in collaboration with other partners to establish and maintain a comprehensive national wildlife database.

For decades, critical wildlife information generated through research, monitoring programmes, ecological surveys, community conservation initiatives, and government agencies has remained scattered across institutions and databases.

This fragmentation has often limited access to information needed for timely and informed decision-making.

"The National Wildlife Database seeks to bridge this gap by creating a single, authoritative repository of wildlife information that can be accessed and utilized by conservation practitioners, researchers, policymakers, planners, and development partners, " said the Institute's Deputy Director- Research, Dr David Ndereeh, during the workshop.

"Once operational, the platform will support a wide range of conservation priorities, including wildlife population monitoring, habitat management, climate resilience planning, anti-poaching efforts, wildlife disease surveillance, and management of transboundary ecosystems," he said.

During the validation meeting, stakeholders reviewed the database framework and provided feedback on available datasets, data standards, and integration mechanisms. Discussions also focused on data collation, verification, quality assurance, and identification of critical information gaps.

By bringing together wildlife knowledge from across the country into one integrated system, the National Wildlife Database will not only preserve valuable institutional memory but also enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in conservation management.

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Kenya
State Department for Wildlife
Silvia Museiya
Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH

10/06/2026

The restoration of Lake Kamnarok received a major boost today after the Institute officially received the Lake Kamnarok Invasive Plant Removal Project from the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Kenya, through the State Department for Wildlife.

The Government-funded initiative seeks to restore the ecological health of the lake by removing invasive plant species that have degraded wildlife habitats, threatened biodiversity, and affected the lake's ability to support both wildlife and local livelihoods.

The official handover was held at Lake Kamnarok National Reserve and marks the beginning of a comprehensive ecological restoration programme that has been preceded by extensive stakeholder consultations and community engagement led by the Institute.

As part of the preparatory engagements, the Institute paid a courtesy call on Baringo County Commissioner Mr. Wesley Koech and subsequently held consultations with administrative leaders, public participation forums, and sensitization meetings aimed at informing stakeholders about the project's objectives, implementation modalities, and environmental safeguards that will guide the restoration process.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Mr. Charles Ombuki, who led the delegation from the State Department for Wildlife, emphasized the Government's commitment to restoring degraded ecosystems and supporting initiatives that promote sustainable conservation and community livelihoods.

“The Government remains committed to investing in ecosystem restoration programmes that protect our natural heritage while creating long-term benefits for communities. The restoration of Lake Kamnarok is a significant step towards reclaiming a critical ecosystem and enhancing its ecological and socio-economic value," said Mr. Ombuki.

Baringo West Assistant County Commissioner, Mr. Peter Ole Ngeny, lauded the collaborative approach adopted by the institute and other stakeholders throughout the planning process.

“The extensive consultations and public participation undertaken before the commencement of this project demonstrate the importance of involving communities in conservation initiatives. We encourage residents to continue supporting this intervention to ensure the successful restoration of Lake Kamnarok for current and future generations," said Mr. Ngeny.

The project is expected to contribute significantly to the restoration of Lake Kamnarok's ecological functions, improve habitat conditions for wildlife, enhance environmental sustainability, and support the livelihoods of communities that depend on the lake's resources.

Silvia Museiya
Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH

09/06/2026

The Institute today commenced a comprehensive workshop on the development of the 2026/2027 Budget Rationalization, Annual Work Plan, Procurement Plan, and Performance Contracting framework, bringing together staff and departmental representatives to align institutional priorities for the coming financial year.

Opening the workshop, the Director, Dr. Patrick Omondi, emphasized the importance of the exercise as a critical platform for reflection, planning, and strategic realignment.

He noted that the workshop provides an opportunity for the Institute to assess progress made, identify emerging priorities, and ensure that future activities remain firmly anchored in the Institute’s Strategic Plan (2023–2027).

“This process is more than a budgeting exercise. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on our milestones, evaluate our achievements, and strategically position ourselves to deliver greater impact in wildlife research and training,” said Dr. Omondi.

He underscored the need for all departments to align their proposed activities and resource requirements with both the Institute’s strategic objectives and the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which seeks to accelerate socio-economic development through targeted investments and evidence-based decision-making.

Dr. Omondi further challenged staff to embrace innovation as a key driver of institutional growth and relevance. He noted that the rapidly changing conservation landscape demands new approaches to research, data generation, and knowledge dissemination.

“As a research institution, we must continuously innovate and develop solutions that respond to emerging conservation challenges. Innovation should not only be reflected in our research outputs but also in the way we plan, collaborate, and deliver our mandate,” he added.

The workshop is expected to produce a harmonized budget, procurement plan, annual work plan, and performance contracting targets for the 2026/2027 financial year.

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Kenya
State Department for Wildlife
Silvia Museiya
Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH

08/06/2026

One of the Institute's core mandates is to undertake wildlife health research and disease surveillance to generate evidence that informs policy and management decisions.

As emerging diseases continue to pose increasing risks to wildlife, livestock, and human populations, strengthening disease detection, monitoring, and response systems remains critical for safeguarding biodiversity, livelihoods, and public health.

In support of this mandate, the Institute participated in the launch of the Laboratory in Northern Kenya (LiNK) at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (LWC), funded by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA).

LiNK is a collaborative initiative bringing together the Institute, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA), Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT), and LWC to strengthen wildlife health surveillance and diagnostic capacity across Northern Kenya.

The laboratory will provide critical diagnostic services while serving as a platform for monitoring wildlife health and detecting emerging threats at the wildlife-livestock-human interface.

By enhancing access to timely disease information, LiNK will contribute to informed decision-making, improved disease preparedness, and more effective conservation interventions across the region.

Representing the Director at the launch, Deputy Director for Research, Dr. David Ndeereh, reaffirmed the Institute's commitment to supporting the laboratory's growth as a centre of excellence for wildlife health research and disease surveillance.

He noted that the Institute will provide scientific leadership by guiding research and surveillance priorities, aligning activities with the National Research Agenda, and facilitating integration of data into the National Wildlife Database.

Dr. Ndeereh further emphasized that strong partnerships and coordinated data sharing are essential for addressing emerging wildlife health challenges and strengthening national and regional disease surveillance systems.

The launch followed a technical workshop that brought together veterinarians, veterinary paraprofessionals, ecologists, and laboratory professionals to explore opportunities for strengthening clinical services and addressing critical disease surveillance gaps in Northern Kenya.

The establishment of LiNK marks an important step in advancing collaborative wildlife health research and surveillance, reinforcing Kenya's capacity to detect, monitor, and respond to diseases that threaten wildlife conservation, ecosystem health, and community livelihoods.

San Diego Zoo
Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Kenya
State Department for Wildlife
Silvia Museiya
Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH

08/06/2026

As Kenya's largest protected ecosystem and a globally important biodiversity stronghold, the Tsavo landscape plays a critical role in the conservation of large carnivores and their prey.

Recognizing the need for coordinated research and evidence-based conservation in this vast ecosystem, the Institute, last week, convened the Tsavo Conservation Area Carnivore Coordination and Data Integration Forum at its Tsavo Research Centre.

The forum brought together key conservation stakeholders working across the Tsavo landscape to share updates on ongoing carnivore research and conservation initiatives, exchange experiences and expertise, and explore opportunities for collaboration through the establishment of the Tsavo Carnivore Resource Hub.

Speaking during the meeting, the Centre Head, Dr Fredrick Lala noted the proposed hub will serve as a central platform for knowledge sharing, data integration, partnership building, and coordinated conservation action.

"By improving access to research findings, monitoring data, and conservation resources, the hub is expected to strengthen evidence-based decision-making, support collaborative management efforts, and enhance contributions to the National Wildlife Database in line with Institute's mandate," he said.

Participants included representatives from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Tsavo Trust, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT), the Tsavo Lions Project, and the Tsavo Simba Research Project.

Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration among conservation partners, with particular emphasis on standardizing data collection methods, integrating carnivore data into the resource hub, promoting joint conservation initiatives, and pursuing collaborative fundraising opportunities.

The forum marked an important step toward building a unified conservation network capable of generating the scientific knowledge and partnerships needed to secure the future of Tsavo's carnivores and the ecosystems they inhabit.

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Kenya
State Department for Wildlife
Silvia Museiya
Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH
ZSL
TsavoSimba ResearchProject

06/06/2026

A stakeholder engagement meeting was held today in Baringo West Sub-County ahead of the rollout of the Lake Kamnarok Ecological Restoration Project, bringing together local leaders, community representatives, and the project team to discuss the project's implementation framework and build support for its successful ex*****on.

The meeting focused on sensitizing stakeholders on the project's objectives, outlining planned interventions, and highlighting the critical role of the community in supporting restoration efforts.

Led by the Institute, the initiative seeks to restore the ecological health of Lake Kamnarok through interventions aimed at improving hydrological connectivity and addressing invasive aquatic species affecting the lake ecosystem.

Speaking during the meeting, Mr. James Mathenge, emphasized the importance of community participation and stakeholder collaboration in ensuring the success and sustainability of the project.

The local leadership was represented by Kambutiei Location Senior Chief, Mr. Cheptumo, who welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed the community's commitment to supporting the restoration efforts.

The session provided an opportunity for stakeholders to engage with the project team, share their perspectives, and align on the planned activities ahead of implementation.

Following the meeting, the team conducted a site visit to assess the current status of the project area and familiarize themselves with the key intervention sites.

Implementation activities are expected to commence, marking the beginning of a coordinated effort to restore and safeguard the Lake Kamnarok ecosystem for the benefit of both biodiversity and local communities.

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Kenya
State Department for Wildlife
Silvia Museiya
Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH

06/06/2026

Yesterday, the Institute's Amboseli Sub Centre staff joined different stakeholders to mark celebrations held in Kimana, Kajiado County.

Running under the theme “A Global Call for Climate Action,” the event was presided over by Kajiado South Member of Parliament and the Deputy County Commissioner, who emphasized the importance of collective action in addressing climate change and its impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, wildlife, and human livelihoods.

The celebrations brought together government agencies, including National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Water Resources Authority (WRA), National Government Administration Officers, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, learning institutions, faith-based organizations, the private sector, and local communities.

Key discussions included sustainable wildlife conservation, ecosystem resilience, human-wildlife coexistence, community-based conservation, sustainable rangeland management, and evidence-based environmental decision-making.

Special attention was also given to solid waste management and the impacts of pollution on human, wildlife and environmental health, particularly within Kimana Township.

The institute also participated in the pre-event activities, which included stakeholder panel discussions, a clean-up exercise within Kimana Township, a public awareness procession, and tree planting activities.

The Institute highlighted the importance of monitoring climate change impacts on wildlife and habitats, generating scientific evidence to inform policy and management decisions, restoring degraded ecosystems, protecting wildlife corridors, and strengthening community participation in conservation and climate adaptation initiatives.

Nema Kenya
Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Kenya
State Department for Wildlife
Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH
Silvia Museiya

05/06/2026

The Institute today officially welcomed 201 trainees admitted under the May/June 2026 intake during a colourful orientation ceremony marked by inspiration, mentorship, and encouragement as the new students embarked on their academic journey.

The event, held at the Institute, brought together members of the Senior Management Team, trainers, and staff from the Training Division, who joined the trainees in celebrating the beginning of a transformative learning experience.

Welcoming the trainees, the Director, Dr. Patrick Omondi, congratulated them on securing admission to the Institute and assured them that they had joined one of Kenya’s premier institutions for training in wildlife conservation, environmental management, fisheries, tourism, and hospitality.

“You have joined a unique institution situated within a wildlife sanctuary, providing a living laboratory where theory meets practice. Few students in the country have the privilege of learning in such an environment,” Dr. Omondi remarked.

The Director further highlighted the Institute’s transition from a knowledge-based training approach to the Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) model, noting that success in today’s dynamic world depends not only on what individuals know but also on their ability to apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes to solve real-world challenges.

He explained that the CBET model, which has been adopted across Kenya’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, equips learners with industry-relevant competencies, enhances employability, promotes innovation and entrepreneurship, and ensures training remains responsive to evolving labour market demands.

“By emphasizing practical skills, workplace readiness, and performance-based assessment, CBET is helping to bridge the gap between training and employment while producing a globally competitive workforce,” he said.

Dr. Omondi encouraged the trainees to make the most of their time at the Institute by pursuing academic excellence, building professional networks, cultivating leadership skills, and actively participating in research, field activities, sports, and student clubs.

He also challenged them to embrace three key values throughout their training journey: discipline, curiosity, and resilience.

The ceremony was graced by Institute alumnus Mr. Joseph Kimirei, currently serving as a Field Officer with Soils Forthe FutureAfrica.

Drawing from his professional experience, he urged the trainees to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to excellence, emphasizing that the opportunities they seize during their time at the Institute will significantly shape their future careers.

The event concluded with the Director handing over new sporting gear to the trainees’ football club, reaffirming the Institute’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded graduates through both academic and extracurricular development.

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Kenya
State Department for Wildlife
Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH
Silvia Museiya

05/06/2026

Today, we join the global community in commemorating World Environment Day 2026 under the theme, "A Global Call for Climate Action."

Climate change continues to pose significant threats to biodiversity, wildlife habitats, and ecosystem health.

As a wildlife research and training institution, we recognize the critical role of science, innovation, and evidence-based conservation in understanding environmental change and developing effective solutions to protect our natural heritage.

Through research, monitoring, habitat restoration, and collaborative conservation efforts, we can strengthen ecosystem resilience and safeguard wildlife for present and future generations.

Together, let us take meaningful action today to protect our environment and build a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future for people and nature.

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Kenya
State Department for Wildlife
Silvia Museiya
Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH

04/06/2026

The Institute, in collaboration with leading experts from The University of Bristol, Mara Elephant Project, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority - KCAA invite applications for a Five-Day Short Course on the Use of Drones in Conservation.

This intensive programme scheduled from July 13-17th, 2026, at the Institute’s Headquarters in Naivasha, provides practical skills and scientific knowledge to harness drone technology for wildlife monitoring, habitat assessment, biodiversity conservation, and research.

The programme focuses on drone use, data analysis and applications. Through expert-led lectures and practicals participants will acquire the skills needed to integrate drone technology into conservation practice and decision-making.

📌 Limited slots available.
📌 Certificate of participation to be awarded upon successful completion.

To register, call us on 0797 900 800, email us on [email protected] or visit our website for more information.

Join us and discover how cutting-edge drone technology is revolutionising wildlife conservation!

Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Kenya
State Department for Wildlife
Silvia Museiya
Hon. Rebecca Miano, EGH
University of Bristol

Wildlife Research & Training Institute Kenya

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