Under the current conservation paradigm and structures in Africa (which was developed nearly a century ago, A black man’s place is to be a RANGER, enforcing western created policies against his own brothers, not unlike the case of colonial homeguards. Here in Kenya, KWS still doesn’t contribute to policy formulation, although they sit in the meetings and are expected to implement and enforce policy. Here are cases in point;
1. The corporate communications officer regularly reported donations to KWS. These include; a fleet of landcruisers from USAID, scenes of crime kits from AWF, Laptops for prosecutors from Space for Giants, and most recently advanced flight training for pilots from some American animal welfare group so they can better track and shoot poachers. I’m not aware of any donor giving funds for policy training, advanced human dimensions training, or studies in indigenous conservation norms. Black people in conservation in Africa are not supposed to think.
2. Last year KWS advertised for a new Director-General, then later re-advertised LOWERING the required qualifications. I speculate that too many highly qualified candidates applied (I know of 3 PhD holders). Its a crisis, and they desperately need a black person, but with lesser credentials. I also speculate that donors were behind the decision to re-advertise, because I refuse to believe there was no candidate in the initial round worth hiring. Black people in conservation in Africa are not supposed to think. In the final analysis, they hired a military officer.
3. I have seen regular ceremonies held to give (richly deserved awards) to the best and bravest rangers (some posthumous). Where are the awards for the best scientists? The awards for the rangers who maintain friendly relations with local communities? The best conservation policy ideas? We only award those who excelled in the arena of violence. I repeat- Black people in conservation in Africa are not supposed to think.
3. Senior staff are regularly taken for security training, including courses at the National Defense College, yet they are law enforcers, not military. Are they ever taken for conservation philosophy and ethics training? Has any donor ever offered to fund such an exercise? I don’t think so. Once more- Black people in conservation in Africa are not supposed to think.
The donors are busy ‘dumbing us down’ hence the raucous promotion of an African conference on protected areas. Why not a conference on conservation in egalitarian societies? Protected Areas today are an anachronism or throwback to days when locals had no rights. We shouldn’t create new ones and only keep the existing ones because they are part of our history and heritage, but donors realize that will make black people think that they own Africa’s landscapes. They want to create more, and expand the physical and intellectual empire.
I publicly offered to train Senior KWS (and Ministry!) staff on New Ethical Paradigms in Conservation philosophy.
It is 2021, and KWS never took up this offer. For the record, it is still open
