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Who We Are
A Kenyan Grassroot Conservation Organization working with
communities in Amboseli to protect the landscapes we share.
Our Story
It started with a question: where were the girls?
While working in Amboseli, Dr Winnie Kiiru noticed that many Maasai girls who began school were no longer in the classroom by around Class Five. Their absence revealed a deeper truth: conservation cannot be separated from the realities, opportunities and wellbeing of the people who share the landscape with wildlife.
Conservation Kenya was founded in 2012 from that conviction.
Today, we work with communities across Amboseli to restore habitats, strengthen livelihoods, build conservation knowledge and support locally led solutions.
What We Believe
Conservation lasts when communities are part of the solution.
At Conservation Kenya, we believe wildlife conservation cannot succeed in isolation from the people who share the landscape. Our approach starts by listening to communities, understanding the pressures they face and building solutions together. We combine local knowledge, conservation education, research, habitat restoration and resilient livelihoods to strengthen both communities and ecosystems. By investing in people, building knowledge and using evidence to guide action, we create conservation solutions that are locally owned, practical and built to last.
People First
We build conservation with communities, not around them.
Knowledge matters
We combine local experience, education and research to guide better decisions.
Solutions must last
We focus on practical approaches that strengthen livelihoods, habitats and long-term coexistence.
Our Mission & Vision
What makes us different?
Our Vision
A thriving, equitable landscape where people and wildlife flourish together; land stewarded by diverse local communities, guided by both ancestral wisdom and modern science, where conservation enriches livelihoods, fosters cultural pride, and sustains ecosystems across generations.
Our Mission
Conservation through public participation
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The People Behind the Work
Conservation is built by people who understand the landscape, the communities and the responsibility that comes with protecting both.
Conservation Kenya is led by conservation practitioners, community advocates and specialists committed to building practical, locally grounded solutions for Amboseli.
Our leadership combines decades of experience in wildlife conservation, research, community engagement and environmental stewardship with a deep understanding of the people and landscapes we serve.
Dr Winnie Kiiru
Founder & Executive Director
Dr Winnie Kiiru is a globally respected conservationist and elephant biologist whose work has shaped conversations on wildlife protection, coexistence and community-led conservation for decades. Her leadership at Conservation Kenya is grounded in the belief that conservation must work for both people and wildlife.
Panian
Panian is a skilled Nursery Operations & Environmental Specialist with expertise in seedling propagation, soil preparation, pest management, and general nursery upkeep. Known for maintaining highly organized, labeled, and efficient growing environments, Panian combines strong hands-on technical care with community impact, assisting in school greening campaigns and environmental awareness initiatives.”
Panian
Skilled Nursery Operations & Environmental Specialist
Panian is a skilled Nursery Operations & Environmental Specialist with...
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Our Journey
From one question in Amboseli to a growing model of people-centered conservation.
Since 2012, Conservation Kenya has grown from a commitment to expanding opportunity for girls and communities in Amboseli into a wider conservation model connecting people, wildlife, knowledge and landscape restoration.
Each milestone reflects the same principle that shaped our beginning: lasting conservation is built through trust, participation and practical solutions.
Reached 300+ students through the Mazingira Trips program and school outreach visits, fostering early-age environmental stewardship and awareness of wildlife conservation such as giraffe and elephant protection.
Established a specialised nursery growing over 10 indigenous tree species specifically adapted to the Amboseli ecosystem.
Promoted beekeeping and sustainable craft-making as viable economic alternatives that reduce community reliance on charcoal burning and overgrazing in sensitive wildlife corridors.
Trained women and youth in vertical gardening, enhancing household food security and providing a sustainable alternative to land-degrading practices
Supported the first-ever secondary school graduates from Lemong’o village, breaking a significant local barrier to higher education for Maasai girls.
A people-centred approach begins in Amboseli, rooted in the belief that conservation must include the people who share the landscape with wildlife.
Conservation Kenya deepens its work with young people, schools and communities.
Research and field-based conservation become a stronger part of Conservation Kenya’s model.
Indigenous tree growing, habitat restoration and climate-smart livelihood initiatives take greater prominence.
Conservation Kenya expands programmes linking restoration, education, research and local leadership.
Conservation Kenya continues scaling its work to strengthen a more resilient landscape for people and wildlife.
Governance & Partnerships
Strong conservation depends on strong institutions and strong relationships.
Conservation Kenya works within a network of communities, conservation organizations, government agencies, researchers and development partners who share a commitment to protecting Amboseli’s people, wildlife and landscapes.
Our governance structures are designed to support accountability, transparency and responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to us.
Partners
Our work is strengthened through collaboration with communities, conservation organizations, government agencies and development partners.”
