Kenya marks conservation heroes' day with pledge to support wildlife rangers

NAIROBI - Kenyan first lady Margaret Kenyatta led the nation in marking the conservation hereos' day on Sunday and pledged to support incentives aimed at boosting morale of rangers manning wildlife sanctuaries and other biodiversity hotspots.

Kenyatta said the government is committed to improving the welfare of wildlife rangers who face threats from poachers, harsh climatic conditions and attacks by wild animals.

"The brave men and women who protect our wildlife should be recognized and rewarded through regular training, access to medical cover and modern protective gear," Kenyatta said.

The conservation heroes' day is dedicated to paying tribute to hundreds of wildlife rangers who died in the line of duty.

The theme of this year's conservation heroes' day, "From the Eyes of a Ranger," sought to shed light on challenges facing uniformed officers charged with protecting Kenya's iconic wildlife species.

Kenyatta said Kenya has adopted international best practices to enhance the capacity of wildlife rangers to discharge their mandate.

The first lady noted that investment in capacity-building and modern technology has revitalized uniformed force that guard Kenya's wildlife habitat and driven down poaching.

"A recent survey indicated that over 95 percent of our wildlife rangers are proud of their work despite harsh conditions," Kenyatta said, adding that the government will continue to compensate families of rangers killed in the line of duty.

Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala said better remuneration for wildlife rangers is on the cards to boost their morale while protecting iconic species that generate millions of dollars to the exchequer through tourism.

Balala pledged to present a proposal to parliament to facilitate employment for children whose parents died while protecting wildlife to agencies charged with management of the country's flora and fauna.