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🏛️ Governance structure 👤 Expert directory 🏕️ Field centres 📜 Institutional history
Home › About WRTI
1976
Since 1976 · State Corporation, Government of Kenya

Kenya's national wildlife
research institution.

For 47 years, WRTI has generated the wildlife science that underpins Kenya's conservation policy, trained the professionals who manage the country's protected areas, and maintained the longest-running wildlife monitoring programmes in East Africa.

1976
Founded
12
Field centres
28
Research scientists
3,200+
Alumni trained
Our Mandate

To generate rigorous, evidence-based wildlife science for Kenya's conservation policy and management — and to train the next generation of conservation professionals who will apply it.

🔬
Research — conduct and coordinate wildlife research across Kenya's protected areas, ecosystems, and species of conservation concern.
📊
Monitoring — maintain the national wildlife census programme and long-term population monitoring infrastructure.
🎓
Training — deliver postgraduate and professional training in wildlife management, conservation science, and field methods.
⚖️
Advisory — provide technical evidence and policy advisory to government, regulators, and the conservation sector.
Institutional facts
Statutory authorityWC&M Act 2013
Parent MinistryTourism & Wildlife
HeadquartersMuguga, Kiambu
Annual budget (2023/24)KES 1.4B
Staff complement186
Publications (lifetime)847
Our History

47 years of wildlife science.

1976
WRTI established
The Wildlife Research and Training Institute is established as a state corporation following Kenya's first wildlife policy review, with a mandate to conduct research and build national capacity for wildlife management amid growing concerns about poaching and habitat loss.
1988
First national wildlife census
WRTI conducts Kenya's first systematic national aerial census of large mammals, establishing the baseline against which all subsequent population trends are measured.
1994
MSc programme launched with Egerton University
WRTI partners with Egerton University to launch Kenya's first postgraduate degree programme dedicated specifically to wildlife management and conservation science.
2008
GPS telemetry programme begins
WRTI deploys its first GPS satellite collars on elephants in the Amboseli ecosystem, beginning what would become the most comprehensive wildlife movement dataset in East Africa.
2012
Conservation Genetics & Forensics Laboratory accredited
WRTI's genetics laboratory achieves CITES recognition for wildlife forensic analysis, becoming Kenya's primary source of forensic evidence in wildlife crime prosecutions.
2021
National Data Policy adopted
WRTI adopts its three-tier open data framework, becoming one of the first wildlife research institutions in Africa to formalise structured open access to its national datasets.
2023
National Wildlife Policy evidence base
WRTI research and data directly inform Kenya's National Wildlife Conservation and Management Policy 2023–2033, with 14 WRTI data products cited in the final Cabinet-approved document.
Leadership

WRTI's senior leadership team.

EM
Dr. Esther Mwikali
Director General
Leads WRTI's institutional strategy and represents the Institute before the Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife, Parliament, and international partners. Previously Deputy Director of Research, 2014–2021.
Director General since 2021
NK
Prof. Njeri Kamau
Director of Research & Biodiversity Information
Oversees WRTI's national research programme, biodiversity database, and remote sensing capability. 61 peer-reviewed publications.
Director since 2018
AO
Dr. Amara Osei
Director of Field Operations
Manages WRTI's 12 field research centres and coordinates national census operations. Leads the carnivore monitoring programme.
Director since 2020
PW
Dr. Patrick Waweru
Director of Policy & Strategic Partnerships
Leads WRTI's policy advisory function, government relations, and institutional partnerships. Delivers WRTI's evidence to legislative committees.
Director since 2019
Governance

How WRTI is governed.

Board of Directors
WRTI is governed by a nine-member Board of Directors appointed by the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism & Wildlife, providing strategic oversight, approving the annual budget and work plan, and ensuring institutional accountability under the State Corporations Act.
Chairperson appointed by the President on recommendation of the Cabinet Secretary
Representation from KWS, the National Treasury, and county government
Three-year renewable terms, maximum two terms
Quarterly board meetings; annual report tabled in Parliament
Statutory Mandate
WRTI operates under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013, which establishes the Institute's research, training, and advisory functions as a statutory requirement for Kenya's wildlife governance system.
Sole national mandate for wildlife research permitting standards
Statutory authority to maintain the national wildlife census programme
Reports to the State Department for Wildlife, Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife
Subject to annual audit by the Office of the Auditor-General
Field Presence

12 field centres, across Kenya's major ecosystems.

Field experience for students
🦁
Narok Research Centre
Maasai Mara Ecosystem
14 researchers·6 projects
🐘
Amboseli Field Station
Amboseli Ecosystem
8 researchers·4 projects
🦏
Tsavo Research Centre
Tsavo East / West
10 researchers·5 projects
🐕
Laikipia Field Station
Laikipia Plateau
7 researchers·4 projects
🦒
Samburu Research Centre
Northern Rangelands
4 researchers·2 projects
🐆
Meru Field Station
Meru Ecosystem
3 researchers·2 projects
🦌
Mt Kenya Field Station
Highland Forest
3 researchers·1 project
🐋
Coastal Research Unit
Coastal & Marine
2 researchers·1 project
47yr
Institutional history
847
Publications produced
3,200+
Professionals trained
68
Active partner organisations
8
Legal instruments citing WRTI
Expert Directory

28 named scientists. Every specialisation.

Request a consultation
Filter experts
Research Theme
All themes 28
Carnivore Ecology 5
Elephant Research 4
Biodiversity 5
GIS & Spatial 4
Genetics & Forensics 3
Policy & Governance 4
Human-Wildlife Conflict 3
AO
Dr. Amara Osei
Director of Field Operations · Large Carnivore Ecology
CarnivoresGPS Telemetry
42 publications·Narok Centre
Request consultation
NK
Prof. Njeri Kamau
Director of Research · Biodiversity Information Systems
BiodiversityRemote Sensing
61 publications·Nairobi HQ
Request consultation
DM
Dr. David Mwangi
Senior GIS Analyst & Conservation Geographer
GISHabitat Mapping
28 publications·GIS Laboratory
Request consultation
SK
Dr. Siti Kamau
Research Scientist — Elephant Ecology & Movement
ElephantsCorridors
28 publications·Amboseli Station
Request consultation
GM
Dr. Grace Muthoni
Head of Conservation Genetics & Forensics
GeneticsForensics
34 publications·Genetics Lab
Request consultation
PW
Dr. Patrick Waweru
Director of Policy & Strategic Partnerships
PolicyGovernance
22 publications·Nairobi HQ
Request consultation
JN
Dr. James Ndung'u
Research Scientist — HWC & Carnivores
HWCLions
31 publications·Narok Centre
Request consultation
HA
Dr. Hassan Ali
Research Scientist — Arid Ecosystems & Giraffe Ecology
GiraffeArid Zones
18 publications·Samburu Centre
Request consultation
RO
Rachel Odhiambo
Senior GIS Specialist — Wildlife Corridor Mapping
GISCorridors
14 publications·GIS Laboratory
Request consultation

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