Ali AwDoll
Wajir.
Wajir South Member of Parliament Mohammed Adow has accused the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) of violating community trust and conservation ethics after two orphaned Somali giraffes were secretly relocated from Wajir County to a private sanctuary in Nanyuki.
In a strongly worded statement, Adow condemned what he termed a “unlawful and unilateral operation”, saying the transfer was carried out without consulting local leaders, conservation experts, or community members who had been caring for the young giraffes since their mother’s death.
“No stakeholder was engaged in this decision: not local leaders, not conservationists, and certainly not the communities that have been at the frontline of wildlife protection,” Adow said.
“This act undermines trust and disregards the vital role that local communities play in safeguarding endangered species,” the MP added.
The MP said residents of Wajir had nurtured the orphaned calves under difficult arid conditions, showcasing the region’s growing commitment to community-led conservation.
The Somali giraffe, an endangered subspecies native to northeastern Kenya and southern Somalia, faces mounting threats from habitat loss and poaching, making local stewardship critical to its survival.
The transfer to Nanyuki, home to several high-end private wildlife sanctuaries, has sparked outrage, with Adow questioning whether powerful private interests were behind the move. He condemned the relocation as “not conservation, but betrayal.”
Adow demanded the immediate return of the two giraffes to Wajir County and full disclosure from KWS on the decision-making process and any private actors involved.
He further called for a moratorium on future translocations from northern Kenya without the consent of county governments and affected communities, and for the establishment of an inclusive national framework for wildlife management that emphasizes community participation and equitable benefit-sharing.
“Our people have shown unwavering commitment to protecting wildlife under harsh and challenging conditions,” Adow said, adding that the community remains steadfast in its conservation efforts but will not allow its wildlife to be taken away for the benefit of others.
The standoff highlights long-standing tensions between centralized conservation authorities and devolved county governments in Kenya’s northern frontier, where residents often bear the costs of human-wildlife conflict but see few benefits from the sector.
KWS has yet to respond to the allegations, but the controversy is already stirring national debate on how wildlife translocation decisions are made, and who truly benefits from Kenya’s conservation efforts.
Adow declared defiantly: “Enough is enough. KWS must respect the law, respect our people, and return the giraffes to their rightful home.”
The MP’s call has been echoed by local conservationists, including Sharmake Sheikh, Founder of Sabuli Conservancy and CEO of the Northern Eco-Conservation Alliance (NECA), who described the relocation as a setback to years of grassroots conservation work in northern Kenya.
“Communities in this region have invested time, trust, and local knowledge in protecting these endangered species. Relocating the giraffes without consent is deeply disrespectful and undermines community-based conservation,” Sharmake said.
Local conservation groups in Wajir have vowed to rally behind Adow’s demand for the giraffes’ return, calling for a more transparent, inclusive, and community-centered approach to wildlife management in Kenya’s frontier counties.