Conservation Alliance of Kenya (CAK) organized a meeting and invited its members to meet with Ms. Rebecca Miano, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Tourism and Wildlife on 23rd September 2024 in Nairobi to discuss the areas in wildlife management that need attention by the Ministry. The 13 organizations present highlighted some key issues after which the CS made her comments. She said that the main purpose of this meeting was to know each other as well as know how to work together. She further said that she has noted and is impressed that the conservation sector has more of an anchored passion than just work.
She suggested ways in which she thinks we can work together. First, is to streamline the way we engage. She said she believes in roundtable discussions where such engagements can take place. Secondly, is to work together on emerging issues. ‘We don’t need to agree on everything as we do this but we will have made effort.’ She added. Thirdly, she challenged us that since we are their first-line in public participation, we need to be very proactive.
Fourthly, she promised that her Ministry would address issues of mistrust and accountability because serving people should not be seen as a favour or luxury. She advised that we need to develop a calendar of events or an action plan to enable us have more of such engagements between the Ministry and stakeholders. Fifthly, she informed that the Ministry is finalizing the multi-sector policy to ensure harmony in implementation among the various sectors. She added that they are not going to reinvent the wheel but chat out a way forward for execution. Sixthly, she emphasized that issues of youth are a profound agenda and need to be given keen attention. She concluded by saying that she is happy to learn that stakeholders in the conservation of wildlife, other natural resources and the environment, have high expectations of her.
