"I became a conservation ranger because of my deep love for nature."
Meet Joseph Mwambiti, the new Head Ranger at the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project. His deep passion for nature has driven him to dedicate himself to a career in conservation. His recent promotion fulfills his lifelong dream of working as a ranger and eventually taking on a leadership role. Mwambiti’s story is one of sheer grit, optimism, hard work, and determination. He candidly shares his childhood dreams, challenges encountered, aspirations, and invaluable insights throughout his career spanning over a decade. He emphasizes that his role is more than just a job, but a true calling.
Q: Recently you were promoted in a colorful ceremony as a Head Ranger. What are some of the key priorities you want to focus on?
A: I am passionate about enhancing the mentorship programs for junior rangers through incorporating continuous training, devising and implementing robust strategies to safeguard wildlife and their habitats, strengthening relationships with local communities, and responding promptly to emergencies like wildfires. I am dedicated to ensuring the safety of our visitors while also imparting essential conservation education for the communities within our project area.
Q: Tell us more about your promotion. What attributes do you think helped you to be considered for the role? How many other candidates applied for the role?
A: At the beginning of the year, Wildlife Works announced an opening for the Head Ranger role. Following a successful application, I underwent a demanding one-week interview process designed to assess my capabilities and resilience. Out of five applicants, I emerged as the top candidate. I believe my selection was based on my strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities. Moreover, my commitment to safeguarding wildlife and preserving biodiversity at the KCRP over the years demonstrated my suitability for the position.
Q: Where were you born and raised? Can you briefly tell us about your upbringing?
A: I was born in the 1980s in Taita Taveta County in south-eastern Kenya, specifically in the Madambogho sub-location, and grew up alongside my two siblings. My educational journey commenced in 1992, as I embarked on my primary school years. However, tragedy struck before I could complete my studies, as I lost both my parents at the age of 15. Fortunately, my grandmother stepped in to care for me. After completing my primary school education, I enrolled in secondary school in 2004, but financial constraints forced me to abandon my studies two years later. Returning to my village, I took on various odd jobs to make ends meet. In a moment of desperation, I even resorted to participating in game meat poaching to supplement my meager income. Although unfortunate, this illustrates how poverty dehumanizes an individual and how young people are lured to engage in illegal activities amidst limited opportunities.
Q: Did you ever dream of being a conservation ranger? What inspired you to pursue this career?
A: When I was growing up, I was deeply affected by the frequent conflicts between humans and wildlife, as well as the increasing incidents of elephant poaching. At that time, illegal charcoal kilns and logging activities were widespread. In school, we learned about the detrimental effects of these activities on our environment and how they negatively affect our livelihoods. These experiences sparked a strong desire in me to become a ranger. It became clear that many people failed to understand the inherent value of wildlife and biodiversity. Early on, I realized there was a significant opportunity to educate and engage the public in the important mission of conservation and the role it can play in our socioeconomic set-up.
Q: Which year did you join Wildlife Work as a ranger and what did your work entail daily?
A: I joined the company in 2011 after learning of a recruitment drive by Wildlife Works Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project. I was successfully recruited and eventually kicked off my remarkable journey of becoming a conservation ranger. To protect the 500,000 acres comprising 14 ranches in the Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project, my daily routine included waking up early, attending daily briefings, and embarking on patrols with my colleagues to survey the area for anything suspicious, such as wildfires, snares, poachers, and charcoal burners, and monitoring and recording different species of wildlife.
Q: In your role, can you describe one of your experiences with human-wildlife conflict?
A: A few years back, when I was stationed as a ranger in Kasigau, we were alerted to a distress call from a member of the community. When we arrived at the scene at around 0100 hrs, we discovered a mother and her two children in a state of distress. An adult male elephant was trying to pry the roofing made of iron sheets off their house. We quickly utilized firecrackers to drive the elephant away, evacuated the family, and promptly reported the incident to the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Q: What are some of the challenges a conservation ranger faces daily?
A: A patrol in the bush can be unpredictable, as it can involve various incidents. For instance, what starts as a routine patrol may turn into an ambush by illegal poachers. We also encounter individuals involved in illegal charcoal kilns and illegal logging activities. Dealing with wildlife encounters and poachers poses significant dangers to the courageous frontline wildlife protectors. Additionally, we come across challenges such as conflicts with local communities and extreme weather conditions during patrols. However, we have received training from instructors at LEAD Ranger on how to handle these situations.
Q: Take us through your career journey since joining Wildlife Works and explain how you advanced through the ranks.
A: Since joining the company in March 2011, I have had the privilege of working alongside experienced rangers who have mentored and trained me in maintaining area integrity and law, developing positive relationships with communities, addressing human-wildlife interactions, and monitoring wildlife and habitats. Through hard work and determination, I was promoted to corporal in 2015 and tasked with leading a team of rangers. Four years later, I completed a four-month crash course led by the LEAD Ranger and was subsequently promoted to the role of senior instructor. In 2022, I was later promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
Q: Recently, you participated in a Gender Training Workshop. What are some of the key takeaways from the training?
A: The training was eye-opening, and I’m wholeheartedly devoted to championing gender equality in a modern and progressive workforce. The training strengthened my awareness and understanding of gender equality, concepts, communication, and terms needed to advance gender equality, how to identify gender bias, and the importance of inclusivity and representation.
Q: How will you be committed to gender equity in your new role?
A: I am fully dedicated to championing gender equality and will lead by example through my actions. I pledge to cultivate a secure and all-encompassing work environment for every team member, guaranteeing equal opportunities and advocating for a harmonious work-life balance. I will also ensure that all rangers are well acquainted with the organization's gender policy.
Q: What are some key achievements you're proud of as a ranger?
A: Some of my achievements include actively participating in hundreds of ranger patrols to deter wildlife trafficking, educating communities on the importance of conservation, and apprehending poachers. Other accomplishments include curbing illegal grazing and preventing illegal logging and charcoal production in protected areas.
Q: Any words of encouragement to young people who aspire to be rangers?
A: Always embrace your passion, dedication, and determination, believe wholeheartedly in your abilities, and lead by example.
