Bush Meat in Kenya

On 30th January, 2010 a training workshop organized for environmental educators in Tsavo ecosystem successfully concluded business after four days of an enriching training on bushmeat education, the first of its kind in East Africa. Seven educators were trained on the new methods in bushmeat education by a team of five facilitators from EAWLS, NMK, AFEW Giraffe center and ANAW. The environmental educators were drawn from KWS Tsavo West NP, Chyulu NP, KWS Taveta, Amara Conservation, WSPA Taveta and Wildlife clubs.

Bushmeat education workshop participant Tsavo

To show how important this training was, two participants met their own cost of travel, food and accommodation. The workshop also benefited from contribution from a leading Bushmeat expert in the US who participated through Skype.

Jacob of Amara Conservation receiving 'Mizoga' film donated by Born free foundation

As part of the training, the educators and the facilitators conducted outreach in Kathekani secondary school and Nthunguni market that borders the Tsavo East National Park. The joint initiative left a huge impact in the school and the community.

Looking back at the enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by the facilitators and educators, I am now convinced that this training heralds a new beginning in the way bushmeat education is conducted in the Tsavo ecosystem. Apart from gaining knowledge and learning new skills, it was notable that new partnerships were formed and pledges to work together particularly on education outreach was made. This was a great outcome of the workshop and I am looking forward to see this in action.

I am very grateful to KWS TWNP management for provision of the training facility and allowing all participants to entry into the park for free during the entire training duration. Thanks to Education Warden Ms Malenya for helping with logistics and organizing an excellent outreach in Kathekani and Nthunguni.

Iregi Mwenja is a USFWS MENTOR Fellowship alumnus and a leading bushmeat expert in East Africa. This capacity building project is funded by USFWS Wildlife Without Borders Africa program

KWS Jan. 18th 2010. “KWS security officers in liaison with the Kenya Police today January 18, 2010 impounded at least 400kg of suspected game meat on its way to the famous Burma meat market, Eastland’s, Nairobi.” This is the upteenth time that we are getting reports of large amount of bushmeat destined for Burma market impounded by KWS and the Police. Other popular meat-eating places like City market and Kenyatta market are also outlets for this illegal meat.  Flash back;

The Associated Press, July 9, 2007: KWS investigators have found that this trade has been going on for the past two months and the target markets are popular meat-eating places like Kenyatta Market and City Market. The game meat dealers sell their meat, passing it off as beef, at a low price of 65 Kenya shillings (US$1) per kg at these markets, said Paul Udoto, Kenya Wildlife Service communications manager.

The Kenya Wildlife Service officials are “concerned that this illegal trade is not only wiping out priceless wildlife but also posing great health risks to people. The uninspected meat has a very high risk of transmitting diseases like anthrax and Rift Valley Fever to people,” Udoto said.”

Capitals News, 3rd February2009: A Nairobi businesswoman at a popular meat eating Market downtown Nairobi was arrested with 74 kg of bush meat morning of Saturday.

Kenya Wildlife Service investigators seized the suspect who had hidden the bush meat under a butchery counter and was mixing it with inspected meat on display to sell to unsuspecting buyers.

The EastAfrica, 8th May, 2009: Just a few weeks ago, we intercepted a matatu with the aid of the police after a tip-off at 4am at Mlolongo. We retrieved a sack of bushmeat on the floor of the matatu. It had 256 kilos of wildebeest and zebra meat. But the offenders were released after a weekend in the cell. The judge set them free citing that they were first offenders!” The police know what’s going on but when the offenders are let off so lightly, it seems futile to bring offenders to the book

The list goes on……..

This is why you should avoid eating ‘nyama Choma’ or buying raw meat disguised as beef in these Nairobi markets

First, it is important to note that all meat from wild animals (not farmed) is illegal in Kenya. Bushmeat is therefore sold illegally disguised as beef. Butchers prefer this illegal meat because they buy it cheaply from the traders who ferry it to Nairobi from conservation areas nearby. This meat is not inspected for zoonotic diseases and poses a serious health risk to anyone coming in contact with the meat.

It is now clear that unsuspecting Kenya who patronize these popular ‘nyama choma’ joints are exposing themselves to great health risk. Those buying raw meat from their local butcheries are not safe either. Unscrupulous butchers looking for quick money buy bushmeat cheaply and sell it raw to their unsuspecting customers.

To avoid the danger of catching ebola, anthrax, monkey pox, anthrax, Rift Valley fever, marburg fever etc, avoid buying ready-made meat, minced meat and any suspicious looking pieces hidden under the counter or any reddish (blood) pieces particularly those that are boneless. Insist on getting all your meat from those parts hanging prominently on the display. This is because it would be very difficult to kill and transport a whole carcass clean without leaving blemishes on the meat. After all, game meat is clearly different from livestock meat and no one need to be an expert to tell. Just  avoid that suspiciously looking lean dark red meat! This will keep you safe from many zoonotic diseases, some of which we don’t know anything about, while at the same time discouraging the thriving illegal trade in bushmeat, which is threatening to decimate our world famous wildlife heritage.

Iregi Mwenja is an alumnus of USFWS MENTOR Fellowship on Bushmeat in eastern Africa currently implementing bushmeat solutions project in Kenya

In Kenya do we have a policy on CBNRM? Why do find it difficult to devolve natural resources management yet the goverment doesn’t have the capacity to manage it sustainably and equitably share the benefits with communities living with this resources (wildlife)? I find the CAMPFIRE example a good one to learn from. Read the article below and share your thoughts.

Community based natural resource management in Zimbabwe: the experience of CAMPFIRE

Russell Taylor

Abstract

Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) is a long-term programmatic approach to rural development that uses wildlife and other natural resources as a mechanism for promoting devolved rural institutions and improved governance and livelihoods.

The cornerstone of CAMPFIRE is the right to manage, use, dispose of, and benefit from these resources. Between 1989 and 2006, CAMPFIRE income, mostly from high valued safari hunting, totalled nearly USD$ 30 million, of which 52% was allocated to sub-district wards and villages for community projects and household benefits. Whilst a number of assumptions underlying the success of CAMPFIRE as an innovative model for CBNRM have yet to be met, CAMPFIRE confirms the concept that devolving responsibility and accountability for natural resource management can be highly effective for the collective and participatory management of such resources.

Elephant numbers in CAMPFIRE areas have increased and buffalo numbers are either stable or decreased slightly during the life of the programme. However, offtake quotas for these two species have increased with a concomitant decline in trophy quality. Although the amount of wildlife habitat diminished after 1980, following the commencement of CAMPFIRE the rate of habitat loss slowed down and in some specific instances was even reversed. More recently there has been increased pressure on habitats and other natural resources as a consequence of deteriorating socio-economic conditions in the country. Where devolution has been successful, promising results have been achieved and the recent acceptance and implementation of direct payments to communities is probably the most significant development since 2000.

That this has happened can be attributed to CAMPFIRE enabling communities to maximize their roles within the existing set of rules, and by so doing, allowing these rules to be challenged. Donor (73%) and government (27%) investments into the programme amounted to $35 million during the period 1989 to 2003. Since 2003 however, donor funding has been reduced to <$600,000 over the past 5 years.

Read the full article