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Kenya , October 21, 2026 - Kenya has started a big new plan to protect its wildlife and help people who live near the parks and reserves. The plan is called Thamani Asili, which means “value of nature” in Kiswahili. It was launched on 21 October 2026 at Tsavo West National Park by Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano. She spoke on behalf of President William Ruto.
The plan will run for ten years and cost about 20.8 billion shillings, or 160 million US dollars. The Government of Kenya will put in half of the money. The other half will come from partners like The Nature Conservancy and Enduring Earth. This way of funding is called Project Finance for Permanence. It means all the money and plans must be ready before the work starts, so the support lasts a long time instead of stopping after a few years.
The work will cover 31 counties in four main areas of the country. Over the next ten years, the plan aims to protect about 17.3 million hectares of land. This includes creating 2.7 million hectares of new protected places with help from local communities, making better use of 11 million hectares that are already protected, and helping communities look after another 6 million hectares themselves. These steps support Kenya’s goal of protecting 30 percent of its land and waters.
The plan is expected to help about 1.6 million people directly. Another 3.9 million people may benefit from better ways to manage land and natural resources. It should also create around 7,800 direct jobs and 15,000 more jobs that come from related work. These jobs will be in tourism, caring for grazing lands, restoring habitats, and other nature-based work. The plan will also strengthen more than 130 community conservancies. Special attention will go to women, young people, and families who live near wildlife.
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Cabinet Secretary Miano said the goal is clear: to protect nature, make communities stronger, and make sure conservation helps the people who look after Kenya’s natural heritage. Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Professor Erustus Kanga said KWS and the communities are one family. They share the same land and the same duty to protect it.
A new independent fund will manage the money and check that the work is done well. The plan is also expected to help fight climate change by avoiding about 7.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2035. Partners say this is a way to keep Kenya’s wildlife safe while giving real benefits and jobs to the people who live closest to it.