Release Sacked KWS Scouts — State Told

Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) personnel who were fired have been reinstated after a court. 

There were 36 KWS Community scouts in the Malindi marine park, who have apparently made a significant contribution in the conservation of turtles and the cleanliness of the marine protected area over the last two years. 

According to reports, turtle hatching rose throughout the two years due to their vigilance and help in guaranteeing the safety of turtle eggs, and they managed to release over 3000 hatchlings back into the ocean.

According to Kate Mwikali, Chairman of the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi (PWAM), the scouts performed an important part in keeping the environment clean and deserve to be reinstated to aid in conservation efforts. 

Speaking in Malindi at the PWAM-organized monthly clean-up exercise aimed at making Malindi green and blue Mwikali stated that they worked closely with the scouts and did an excellent job, and that their absence is a tremendous loss to the community.

She urged the government to reinstate them because they are vital in ensuring animal rights and are part of the job of reducing climate change. 

In an interview, some of the Community scouts also asked President William Ruto to restore them because they had lost their jobs and their families rely on them for survival. 

Anothony Kithi, the chief of scouts at Malindi Marine National Park and Reserve, stated that they were a squad of 36 community scouts tasked with cleaning the beach from Coco Beach to Leopard Point.

“We have done so many things for the last two years since we started working for KWS, we were cleaning the beaches, safeguarding the protected areas, we were also helping in conserving the endangered turtles who are victims of plastic pollution,” he said.

Normally he said they ensure all plastic wastes dumped along the beach are collected which has made the number of turtles rise during their time.

He said they used to safeguard turtle nests, translocate the eggs, and worked with other organizations led by PWAM to take part in the monthly clean-ups.

“The news that our job had come to an end caught us off-guard we never expected that it will just come to an end this way, however, we are still volunteering and we urge the president to reinstate us,” he said.

So far, he said they left five turtle nests at the Malindi marine park.