The Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill, 2025 marks a significant step toward reshaping Kenya’s conservation landscape, with a focus on sustainable management, community participation, and institutional reform. Recognizing the complexity and impact of this legislation, Hifadhi Society Kenya (HSK) played an active role in reviewing and critiquing the Bill through expert participation and professional consultation.

Drawing from its diverse membership of wardens, scientists, ecologists, and conservation professionals, Hifadhi contributed evidence-based insights to strengthen the Bill’s alignment with global conservation standards and national realities. The Society’s involvement focused on ensuring that the legal framework promotes science-driven decision-making, enhances community benefit-sharing, and safeguards Kenya’s biodiversity through robust institutional and policy mechanisms.

Hifadhi’s experts provided technical inputs on key areas such as ecosystem-based land use, wildlife corridor protection, human–wildlife conflict mitigation, and the integration of climate change resilience into wildlife management. The Society also emphasized the need for inclusive governance, advocating for the recognition of wildlife professionals within all decision-making and advisory bodies proposed in the Bill.

Through collaborative dialogue and professional critique, Hifadhi identified areas of strength—such as the Bill’s comprehensive institutional frameworks—and highlighted critical gaps, including coordination challenges, limited climate provisions, and the absence of a recognized wildlife professional body. These contributions informed structured recommendations to enhance implementation efficiency, accountability, and stakeholder inclusivity.

The participation of Hifadhi Society Kenya in this legislative process reflects its broader mandate: to bridge policy, science, and community practice for sustainable wildlife management. By championing professional expertise and inclusive policy design, Hifadhi continues to shape Kenya’s conservation future—ensuring that legislation not only protects wildlife but also empowers the people who coexist with and steward it.