The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) has announced plans of starting a Ksh1.6 billion fund to support community-run wildlife conservancies.
This means that at least 167 communities will benefit from this after their livelihoods were ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic.
Acting Administrator for USAid John Barsa cited that the agency has been supporting these communities whose lives depend on tourism since April.
He said that the funds will make sure that both the communities and wildlife are secure during the COVID-19 times.
“USAid has disbursed 15 million US dollars to enable communities create new ways to live and work during and while recovering from this pandemic,” said Barsa in a statement at Naboisho Conservancy at the Masai Mara.
US Ambassador to Kenya, Kyle McCarter while speaking on this initiative said that it goes a long way in bringing back American tourist to Kenya.
“Our goal is to bring back American Tourists to help rejuvenate the Kenyan economy,” McCarter said.
Kenya Wildlife Service Director-General John Waweru on his part said KWS that has done well in establishing community conservancies and taking up the daunting task of protecting wildlife.
Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association CEO Dickson Kaelo hailed USAid’s grant saying that it will go a long way in bolstering tourism in conservancies.
