By Steve El Sabai
WWF Kenya, in collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA), has launched a transformative initiative aimed at elevating the role of women in Kenya’s community ranger workforce. The announcement was made during celebrations to mark the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
The move follows the release of the Kenya Community Ranger Perception Survey 2024, which exposed critical challenges facing community rangers, including limited access to professional training, inadequate equipment, and inconsistent working conditions. Conservation leaders warn that these barriers are undermining the effectiveness and resilience of Kenya’s frontline defenders of wildlife.
Speaking at the event, Mohamed Awer, Chief Executive Officer of WWF Kenya, called for urgent action to bridge the gender gap within the ranger ranks.
“Currently, women account for just 6 percent of community rangers. We must work to increase this to at least a third, in alignment with the constitutional mandate for gender equality,” Awer said. “Women contribute indispensable skills, diverse perspectives, and innovative approaches that strengthen ranger operations and deliver better outcomes for people, wildlife, and ecosystems.”
Through this initiative, WWF Kenya and KWCA seek to foster meaningful dialogue on gender inclusivity in conservation while creating a supportive environment where all rangers, regardless of gender, can thrive in protecting nature, enhancing community well-being, and boosting local economies.
KWCA Chief Operating Officer, Linet Misiko, underscored the urgent need to invest in ranger capacity development.
“There is an acute need to upskill community wildlife rangers,” Misiko said. “The high cost of proper training presents a significant challenge for many emerging conservancies, leaving rangers ill prepared to address the complex realities on the ground.”
WWF Kenya and KWCA are now calling on policymakers, development partners, and private sector actors to invest in building a more inclusive, better trained, and better equipped ranger workforce that fully embraces the talents and potential of women.
