President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday lauded the US government for supporting Kenya wildlife conservation programmes.
President Kenyatta said cooperation in wildlife conservation projects will enhance ties between Kenya and the US.
The President spoke during a meeting with the US Secretary for Interior Ms Sally Jewell who paid him a courtesy call at State House, Nairobi.
He welcomed efforts by the US to bring on board Asian countries, especially China, to fight illegal wildlife trade.
“Your presence here is a show of commitment to working together as partners,” the President told Ms Jewell.
President Kenyatta said Kenya is focused on partnering with other countries in conserving wildlife and other endangered species.
“We are ready to work with everybody because this is not just for us but for future generations globally. We cannot afford to allow our wildlife to be wiped out,” he said.
Ms Jewell assured Kenya that the Barack Obama administration will continue to partner with the Kenyan government and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) to ensure local communities are involved in wildlife conservation.
“Here in Kenya you have some models that are working very well with NGOs and county governments. The solution is not only in fencing but rather working with local communities in wildlife conservation,” she said.
In his visit to Kenya last year, President Obama said the US will provide financial support to wildlife conservation in Kenya
The US gave a commitment of $800,000 (Sh81.6 million) to protect wildlife in East Africa, including a three-year poaching and trafficking assessment programme in Kenya to be carried out in partnership with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, a Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network.
To deepen cooperation in conservation, Kenya and the US on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding on Natural Resource Management Cooperation to build the country’s technical capacity to combat wildlife trafficking, expand biodiversity conservation and adaptation of climate change.
The agreement was signed by Environment and Natural Resources Cabinet Secretary Professor Judy Wakhungu and the visiting US Interior Secretary.
In the agreement, the US Government will support Kenya in technology, capacity building and in forensic analysis.
“I want to thank you and First Lady Margaret Kenyatta for raising awareness of wildlife conservation globally,” Ms Jewell said.
The meeting was attended by Professor Wakhungu, Principal Secretaries Monica Juma, Karanja Kibicho and US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec.
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