The swelling waters of Lake Naivasha are silently rewriting the geography of Kenya’s most famous freshwater lake drowning research stations, displacing wildlife, and exposing gaps in the country’s environmental preparedness. What began as a natural fluctuation has now escalated into a crisis threatening conservation, livelihoods, and millions in public investment. For months, scientists have watched...Read More

Health & Science The WRTI Wetland Research Centre in Naivasha which has been closed following the rising water level of Lake Naivasha, on November 9, 2025. The rising water levels in Lake Naivasha have marooned houses, farms, and major government infrastructure. The multi-million-shilling Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) wetland research centre and the nearby...Read More

Studies have shown that the disruption to the migratory route has genetic implications for the animals’ longer-term survival. In Summary Mohamed Said from the African Elephant Specialist Group, who made the presentation on wildlife population dynamics, said the lost corridors and dispersal areas will have devastating impacts on the wildlife population. “Land fragmentation, subdivision, unregulated...Read More

WRTI Director Patrick Omondi says timely generation and dissemination of scientific data is essential for effective policy development. he Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) is set to host the Second International Wildlife Scientific Conference, aimed at exploring innovative approaches to safeguard biodiversity while enhancing human livelihoods. Scheduled for September 23 to 25, 2025, in...Read More

The government has offered at least Sh3.8B to compensate victims of human-wildlife conflict to ease the backlog of pending cases over the last three years. According to Kenya Wildlife Service Director General Prof. Erastus Kanga, the agency has recorded 26,000 cases of such conflicts in the last two years alone, attracting more than Sh1.2 billion...Read More

Over the years, the The Nzoia River Basin, a critical watershed in the country has suffered extensive degradation caused by soil erosion, deforestation, and unsustainable human activities. As part of intervention efforts, the Institute, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST) in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and supported by...Read More

On June 4-6th, 2025, the Institute’s Senior Management and the Board Audit and Risk Committee members commenced a three-day Risk Management Implementation Training at Lake Naivasha Resort. Making the opening remarks, Director, Dr. Patrick Omondi, underscored the importance of institutional resilience through proactive risk governance. “As an Institute tasked with leading wildlife research and training...Read More

In a bid to boost Aquaculture training, the Institute, on June 4th, 2025 received a donation of 12 desktop computers from Tunga Nutrition (K) Limited as part of the ongoing Samaki Poa initiative—an East African programme dedicated to transforming the aquaculture sector. Samaki Poa aims to enhance food security, create sustainable employment, and promote inclusive...Read More

On 30th May 2025, the Institute hosted a specialized training on biodiversity valorisation, facilitated by Dr. Hartmut Meyer and Dagmar Honsbein from GIZ – the German Development Cooperation. The three-day session brought together researchers and lecturers from various institutions to deepen their understanding of international frameworks on environmental governance and the sustainable management of biodiversity...Read More

Kenya’s black rhino population has made an extraordinary recovery, rising from just 384 individuals in the late 1980s to 1,059 today. This resurgence is a testament to decades of strategic national conservation efforts, underpinned by robust scientific research and policy support. The Institute has played a pivotal role in this journey, providing critical data that...Read More