Richard Vigne might not be known to many, except those who have crossed his path or are aware of his conservation work across the country.
Vigne is the creator and founder of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, East Africa's largest sanctuary for black rhinos and other wild animals that are housed in the place.
His conservancy method, however, stands out from many others world over because he has incorporated the rearing of highly acclaimed quality steers, which impressed President Uhuru Kenyatta during the official opening of the annual Nairobi International Trade Fair in 2019.
On October 2, Kenyatta and Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko attended the cattle auction on the first day and settled on one that set the governor back Ksh800,000, which Ol Pejeta reported was theirs.
“The president offered high praise for the cattle on display, and declared the importance of promoting Kenya's beef industry both locally and globally,” Ol Pejeta wrote after the historic purchase.
The cattle are part of an initiative by Vigne to shore up income for his highly acclaimed Ol Pejeta Conservancy that he has been running for over 23 years.
In his LinkedIn bio, Vigne revealed that the conservancy churns up over Ksh600 million in profit per year.
He has a first degree in Zoology from Newcastle University, UK and a masters in management of agriculture from Cranfield University, UK.
His Ol Pejeta ranch was home to the famous last black rhino on earth, Sudan, who died in March 2018 due to age-related complications.
Before coming to Kenya, Vigne spent six years operating a safari company throughout Uganda and eastern Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
He is currently a co-director alongside his wife in her fashion retail company called Rock and Stones Limited.
Vigne is also a keen fisherman and scuba diver and speaks fluent Swahili.
