Ranger strums conservation message

By BONIFACE ONGERI

When he was recruited as a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) ranger in 2007, Cyrus Mbogo wanted to fight poachers. Not that this changed. With a decline in poaching in North Eastern Province (NEP), Mbogo has opted to use music to spread the message of wildlife conservation.

In their quarters on the outskirt of Wajir town, the KWS ranger explains why he is glad to swap the gun for the guitar.

"I thought people have not fully appreciated the fact that rangers lose their lives in their bid to protect wild animals from poachers. So I decided to compose songs in honour of the fallen rangers," he says.

"I thought people have not fully appreciated the fact that rangers lose their lives in their bid to protect wild animals."- Cyrus Mbogo, musician and KWS ranger

Mbogo, who goes by the stage name, Vibrating Ranger, has also released a gospel album, but it is his single Heroes that is making waves in the province.

"It doesn’t require my G3 rifle," he points out. "A guitar will do," he adds. And he has been strumming the instrument to the delight of NEP residents.

"I tried to think how I could be of help and reduce the use of force in fighting the poaching menace which, unfortunately, is still rampant in other areas," he says.

He says he composes songs during his free time and he is not about to stop.

The province has always regarded wild animals as the property of KWS. Whenever there is any conflict between people and animals, KWS officers are called to ‘tame their animals’.

Numerous awareness efforts to inform them that the animals belong to the community have been futile. But this does not appear to have discouraged Mbogo, who is committed to matters wildlife conservation.

Guarantee security

The province was once infamous for insecurity and was shunned. However, it has now undergone major transformations is now safer. And Mbogo has taken it upon himself to tell people about this in his songs.

According to Wajir District Game Warden David Odoyo, many people do not know the importance of wildlife conservation. "We encourage efforts like Mbogo’s to spread the gospel of conservation. The good news is, the once conservative community is now opening up and is more receptive to our advice. They are slowly learning that they own the animals", he said.

In the province, there is no poaching neither do residents eat game meat but human/wildlife conflict is rampant. Frequent conflicts and delay of the compensation for humans killed and maimed by wildlife have not endeared KWS to the populace.

For those who remember the early 1980s, wildlife rangers represented the face of terror. But in a symbolic turn around, KWS has been able to endear itself to the public.

KWS Director Julius Kipng’etich says security in NEP had improved. "Previously we were unable to guarantee tourists security. But this has changed," he said.