Kenya on Wednesday participated in the TICAD 9 side event held in Yokohama, Japan, with a focus on digital solutions for human-wildlife conflict and transboundary conservation.
Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, represented the Government of Kenya at the event, addressing the role of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Regional Command and Control Centres (RCCC).
Miano described the initiative as a timely effort to develop coordinated, data-driven, and technology-supported responses to human-nature conflicts across Africa.
“Kenya values this enduring partnership. We are keen to see this to fruition as we all appreciate how nations grapple with human–wildlife conflict, the complexity of transboundary conservation, and the persistent threat of wildlife crime which calls for such urgent remedies,” she said.
The Cabinet Secretary outlined Kenya’s investment in modern surveillance tools such as GPS-based wildlife tracking, drone monitoring, and integrated communication systems designed to improve situational awareness and response capabilities.
Miano reported that the government has allocated land in Nairobi for the Lusaka Agreement Task Force to establish a permanent headquarters to host the Command-and-Control Centre and the Digital Public Infrastructure.
She noted that Kenya, in its role as a leader of the Lusaka Agreement Governing Council alongside Tanzania, is positioned to drive implementation of the RCCC and DPI across the region.
“As the leadership of the Lusaka Agreement Governing Council, Kenya and Tanzania are uniquely positioned to drive this agenda to the next level,” Miano said.
The Cabinet Secretary explained that the RCCC and DPI will provide a central coordination hub for real-time data integration, cross-border surveillance, predictive analytics, and joint response actions.
“These tools are critical for combating transboundary environmental crimes and safeguarding biodiversity,” Miano stated.
She commended her Tanzanian counterpart, Waziri Pindi, for collaborating on the initiative.
“Hongera, my Tanzanian counterpart, for demonstrated synergy towards this discourse—together we can!” Miano added.
The TICAD 9 side event served as a platform for Kenya to present its strategies for integrating technology and regional coordination into efforts to manage human-wildlife interactions, reduce wildlife crime, and strengthen conservation measures.
