Social Protection
The former Community scouts in the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have called upon the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to reinstate and renew their contracts to cushion them from abject poverty.
The scouts chaired by John Omollo, a former Community Scout from Migori, said that since the government stopped their contract renewal in January 2023, they have struggled to make ends meet. The Kenya Wildlife Service Community Scouts was introduced in 2021 by President Uhuru Kenyatta as a form of job creation for Kenyan youths as well as boosting the workforce at the Kenya Wildlife Services.
The programme dubbed National Government Post COVID-19 Economic Programme Stimulus saw 5,500 youths employed across the country with Migori County benefiting with 90 community scouts. The programme was renewed every six months and according to Omollo, the contract of the 5,500 scouts across the country was terminated without communication from Kenya Wildlife Service.
The scouts have requested the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Rebecca Miano to relook at the issue and hear them to ease their economic woos and joblessness. The scouts lamented that they were unable to sustain themselves after their contract was abruptly terminated in early 2023.
“We have been working for two years with contract renewals after every six months. Since January 2023, we have not received any communication from the Kenya Wildlife Authority,” lamented Omollo. Victor Minyiri highlighted that the termination of their contract has affected his livelihood and the well-being of those dependent on him.
He asked the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to reconsider their stand and reinstate them to continue serving the country. Minyiri added that the KWS should also consider issuing them with recommendation letters and certificates to enable them to seek other alternative livelihoods in case the Ministry does not reconsider their plea.
The Kenya Wildlife Service Community Scouts became a crucial organ in the KWS that helped to solve human-wildlife conflicts, creating community awareness, and reporting incidences of wildlife distress among others. “We are calling upon the government to absorb the community wildlife service scouts to reduce the number of unemployed youths in the country,” said Tyson Mike, a community scout.