By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, May 17, 2026 - The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has intensified a nationwide campaign against bushmeat consumption as part of efforts to curb illegal wildlife trade, protect endangered species and shield communities from health risks linked to game meat.
The campaign, dubbed “#SayNoToBushMeat”, been moving across different parts of the country educating communities on the dangers of consuming bushmeat and the impact of poaching on Kenya’s wildlife heritage and tourism sector.
On Saturday, the campaign reached Kitui South Sub-county, with awareness caravans passing through markets and trading centres in Mwingi and neighbouring areas as conservation officers engaged residents on wildlife protection.
KWS said the initiative was launched earlier this year as part of a broader conservation awareness programme targeting communities living near wildlife habitats and migration corridors.
According to the agency, the campaign seeks to discourage illegal hunting and consumption of wild animals, practices that have contributed to declining wildlife populations and threatened endangered species.
“The campaign continues to educate communities on the dangers of bushmeat consumption, illegal wildlife trade, and the threat posed to both wildlife and human health,” KWS said in a statement.
The agency warned that consumption of game meat exposes communities to zoonotic diseases that can spread from animals to humans, posing serious public health risks.
KWS noted that the campaign was not merely a public awareness roadshow but part of a long-term conservation movement aimed at securing Kenya’s biodiversity and supporting livelihoods that depend on tourism.
“This is not just another roadshow. It is a conservation movement aimed at inspiring communities to become active protectors of wildlife for present and future generations,” the statement read.
The campaign’s first phase concluded in Emali Town with what KWS described as massive public participation and increased local media engagement.
The roadshow truck has since moved to Kitui South, traversing Ikutha, Kasala, Kanziko, Muthaa, Mutomo and Ikanga markets where residents are being encouraged to support wildlife conservation efforts.
“Protecting wildlife and ending bushmeat trade helps sustain tourism, create community livelihoods, and safeguard Kenya’s natural heritage for future generations,” KWS said.
Kenya has in recent years stepped up efforts to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trade amid growing concerns over the killing of endangered species for meat and commercial trafficking.
Conservationists warn that continued bushmeat trade not only threatens biodiversity but also undermines tourism, a key foreign exchange earner for the country.
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