Kenya achieved a significant milestone after Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Peninah Malonza made history by becoming the first female to be elected as the President of the Governing Council of the Lusaka Agremeent Task Force (LATF).
Her election was ratified during a high-level meeting held by six member countries on Thursday, June 29.
The Tourism Cabinet Secretary will oversee the operations of member states to the Lusaka Agreement, namely Congo (Brazzaville), Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Tanzania, and Zambia.
She will also liaise with Ethiopia, South Africa and Eswatini, who are signatories to the treaty.
"I want to thank fellow ministers for bestowing upon me the honour to serve as the first female President of the 13th Governing Council," Malonza stated in her inaugural speech.
Malonza also vowed to use the opportunity to advocate for climate activism which she noted would help member countries tackle the wildlife crisis.
Besides climate activism, Malonza called on member states to institute new reforms to apprehend and stop poaching, which she lamented threatened the existence of plants and animals in the wild.
The former Kitui Deputy Governor further implored member states to increase resources to help in addressing wildlife challenges.
The Kenyan Tourism CS took over from Rodney Sikumba, Minister for Tourism of the Republic of Zambia.
Before being elected, Malonza served as the Vice-President of the Lusaka Agreement Governing Council.
JB Muturi's Sentiments
Attorney General Justin Muturi welcomed the new resolutions adding that they were key to scaling up achievements made since the inception of the Lusaka Agreement.
"Notable milestones include the apprehension and prosecution of over 100 criminal kingpins involved in wildlife trade, effectively disrupting illegal international wildlife trafficking. Furthermore, wildlife security forces have successfully recovered various specimens, such as ivory, rhino horns, pangolin scales, sandalwood, primates, reptiles and birds," he stated.
"Another noteworthy achievement is the repatriation of 6.5 tonnes of confiscated ivory from Singapore to Zambia and Malawi, as well as the retrieval of 118 live leopard tortoises from Hong Kong to Tanzania, seized from wildlife traffickers," he added.
