Wajir South Leaders Raise Concerns Over Alleged “Fake” Wildlife Conservationist

Leaders from Wajir South Constituency have raised concerns over the presence of alleged “fake” wildlife conservationists operating in the area. According to local political and community leaders, they have identified one of these individuals as Sharmarke Hussein, who they claim lacks any formal background or experience in wildlife conservation and management.

Through local community leaders and Members of County Assembly (MCAs), the leaders are calling for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate Sharmarke. They accuse him of masquerading as a conservationist and colluding with officials from the State Department of Wildlife to construct substandard water pans. These water pans, meant for wildlife and local use, have raised concerns over their poor quality, which allegedly costs the local government Sh30 million.

The leaders pointed fingers at Principal Secretary Sylvia Meseiya of the Wildlife Department, alleging that she worked in conjunction with Sharmarke to oversee this fraudulent project. They urged the EACC to investigate the awarding of this contract, the quality of the work done, and hold all those involved accountable.

Moreover, the water pans have allegedly become a hotspot for banditry and poaching, particularly of giraffes. The leaders claim that Sharmarke has been defrauding local communities and soliciting grants under false pretenses, including manipulating credible conservation organizations like Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) to secure funding.

Earlier in December 2023, the local MCAs had presented a memorandum to the Principal Secretary of Interior and National Administration. The memorandum expressed concerns over the registration of community conservancies, warning that such initiatives might lead to conflicts and disrupt the long-standing peaceful coexistence of local communities.

The Wajir South leaders are now calling for the contract awarded to Sharmarke to be revoked and reassigned to a credible contractor. They emphasized that the people of Wajir South would not tolerate corruption or fraud, demanding transparency, accountability, and justice in this matter. They insist that the funds used for the substandard water pan project be recovered and properly utilized for either reconstructing the water pan or addressing other critical needs in the region.