KWS wardens
prepare one
of the giraffes
for relocation
from Wajir
to a private
sanctuary in
Nanyuki
/STEPHEN
ASTARIKO
The North Eastern Wildlife Conservancies Association has criticised the removal of two reticulated giraffes from Wajir County to a private sanctuary in Nanyuki by the Kenya Wildlife Service.
KWS county warden Jimale Rashid Hassan led the exercise, saying the decision to move the giraffes came after concerns that they could not survive in the harsh conditions of Wajir or be safely released into the wild.
“These two giraffes have lived among people for too long. They were rescued as young orphans and raised here, but releasing them would put them in danger. They no longer fear humans and that makes them vulnerable to poaching,” Hassan said on Tuesday.
He said the animals were being taken to a KWS facility in Laikipia where there is abundant forage.
The operation drew attention from residents who gathered along the road to watch the rare spectacle.
Rangers and veterinary officers worked for hours to prepare the two giraffes, both male and aged two-and-a-half years for the long journey, using specialised transport equipment to minimise stress.
However, in a statement on Wednesday, Neca through its CEO Sharmake Mohamed, termed the move as unilateral and unlawful, noting that the legal and policy framework was breached when carrying out the exercise.
“These two Somali giraffes were cared for in Wajir by local community members and Neca partner conservancies following the killing of their mother by poachers. There was no public proposal, no documented community consultation, no technical committee approval that Neca is aware of,” read part of the statement.
“KWS did not engage Wajir County Government, local conservancy structures or Neca in any meaningful manner. This was not an emergency translocation. The animals were stable in situ with community protection rather than acute risk requiring urgent relocation.”
Sharmake said rather than reinforcing wildlife protection infrastructure in Wajir, Garissa and Mandera, KWS chose to remove a critical and symbolic species from the very landscape they fight to secure.
“We had viable alternatives. The Garissa Giraffe Sanctuary and the Wajir Giraffe Sanctuary are community‑run, registered conservancies with trained rangers, secure habitat and local investment. Why were the giraffes sent to Nanyuki instead? Who made that decision?”
Wildlife officials have warned that giraffe populations continue to face threats from poaching, habitat loss and climate stress.
In arid counties like Wajir, worsening droughts have depleted vegetation and pushed wildlife closer to human settlements in search of pasture.
