Govt backs game farming rather than hunting in game meat sale plan

The government has clarified it is not going to introduce wildlife hunting even as it pushes for a return of sale of game meat.

This after the Tourism and Wildlife Ministry said it plans to allow restaurants and hotels to sell game meat as a means of boost tourism.

Tourism and Wildlife cabinet secretary Najib Balala however said this would be done after research into game farming had been concluded rather than allowing hunting in the country which would lead to a depletion of wildlife.

“Consumptive utilization of wildlife does not mean hunting or sport hunting. Our Agenda in Kenya is very clear and we are respected in conservation and there shall be no space for hunting in Kenya,” Mr Balala said.

The government in 2004 banned the sale of game meat apart from crocodile and ostrich meat after a rise in poaching cases.

Mr Balala however said that the return of game meat sale was aimed at benefiting communities, rather than legalize hunting.

“We want conservancies, communities and the country to benefit and grow the GDP because of wildlife. This does not however mean that we have to go for hunting. Hunting is out of the question,” he stressed.

The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife setup a taskforce in the past week to look into the modalities of wildlife utilization.