NAIROBI, Kenya – Former U.S. ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, has made her first public reappearance in Nairobi after leaving office.
Whitman resigned as the US Ambassador to Kenya on November 13, 2024, following Donald Trump’s comeback to the White House.
She stated that her resignation was a noble move to peacefully welcome the new administration and dismissed allegations that it was related to any criticism she faced.
However, on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, Whitman appeared in public as the Chair of the Kenya Rhino Range Expansion (KRRE) Advisory Board.
Who are the other notable Kenyans who attended the Nairobi meeting
The meeting, also known as the Room to Roam Program, in Nairobi was attended by the Director General of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Prof. Erustus Kanga, and chaired by Ambassador (Dr.) Monica Juma, Kenya’s National Security Advisor to the President, and honoured by Whitman and the KRRE Advisory Board Chair.
“As a founding board member, KWS remains committed to expanding black rhino habitats, particularly within the Tsavo and Laikipia ecosystems. The KRRE initiative aims to address the challenges posed by overcrowded sanctuaries, territorial conflicts, and limited ecological space resulting from Kenya’s successful rhino conservation efforts,” KWS said in a statement.
By creating new, secure habitats, KWS highlighted that KRRE seeks to promote sustainable population growth, enhance genetic diversity, and ensure the long-term survival of Kenya’s black rhinos.
“This effort aligns with Kenya’s National Recovery Action Plan for the Black Rhino (2022-2026), which envisions a meta-population of at least 2,000 eastern black rhinos in suitable habitats by 2037, with an interim goal of 1,450 rhinos by Vision 2030,” the statement from KWS further reads.
How KRRE will deliver significant socio-economic benefits
The board meeting brought together other key conservation leaders and stakeholders, including Justin Heath, CEO, of Ol Pejeta Conservancy; Craig Millar, COO, of Big Life Africa; Dickson ole Kaelo, CEO, of the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA); and Dr. Patrick Omondi, CEO, Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI Kenya).
Beyond its ecological impact, KRRE will deliver significant socio-economic benefits through enhanced conservation management and security, job creation for local communities, increased revenue for conservancies and surrounding businesses, and contribution to national economic growth through conservation-led initiatives.
“This inaugural meeting laid the foundation for a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to securing a thriving future for Kenya’s rhino population while reinforcing Kenya’s leadership in global wildlife conservation,” the statement from KWS reads.
