Pastoral communities in Laikipia are set to benefit from bursaries, scholarships and improved school infrastructure under the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund (WCTF).
The Fund, whose announcement is already generating excitement among locals, is expected to be rolled out in December 2026.
The initiative aims to support communities involved in wildlife conservation while improving access to education, particularly for children from areas that have historically lagged behind in educational development.
The Fund will mobilise resources for ecological conservation and community development, with special attention to women and young people.
It will also support the upgrading of learning institutions, a move expected to improve the learning environment and educational opportunities for local children.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the initiative, saying it could help address longstanding challenges facing schools in pastoral communities. They emphasised the importance of education in improving livelihoods and creating opportunities for future generations.
The stakeholders also pledged to encourage parents and communities to prioritise education and ensure that children attend school.
Youth capacity building prioritised
Speaking in Nanyuki during a stakeholders’ engagement, WCTF Chief Executive Officer Caroline Tullo said the initiative would prioritise capacity building for young people involved in conservation activities in Laikipia.
“Focus for communities in Laikipia is mainly to support the youth who are undertaking conservation across the landscape. The Fund will support capacity building for these youth through the provision of technical skills,” she said.
Tullo said equipping young people with practical skills would strengthen their participation in conservation and improve their contribution to environmental protection.
WCTF Board Member George Mosiori said the Fund’s strategic plan would guide the identification of priority areas and determine how resources would be allocated to stakeholders.
In Laikipia, women’s groups involved in removing the invasive Opuntia stricta, commonly known as prickly pear cactus, from degraded rangelands are among the communities that could benefit from the initiative.
Francis Ole Nantiri of Lerukuruki Conservancy welcomed the Fund, saying sustainable financing would help community conservancies address land degradation, human-wildlife conflict and financial constraints.
He also called for timely compensation for victims of human-wildlife conflict, noting that recurring incidents continue to affect communities and their livelihoods.
Fund to support conservation and community development
Established under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013 (Cap. 376), the WCTF is a government financing mechanism designed to mobilise resources for wildlife and biodiversity conservation.
The initiative seeks to promote long-term ecological sustainability while supporting communities that play a role in protecting Kenya’s natural heritage.
The engagement was attended by locals, community leaders, conservancy associations and officials from both levels of government, with locals pushing for the speedy establishment of the Fund.
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