Taita Taveta County, Kenya – President William Ruto has unveiled a new National Infrastructure Fund, saying it will unlock large-scale financing to deliver Kenya’s long-delayed development plans while transforming water access and wildlife conservation across the country.
Speaking during the launch of the expanded Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary in Ngulia, Taita Taveta County, the President said the fund is structured to attract up to six times more private sector financing, creating a sustainable model to close Kenya’s infrastructure funding gap.
“For a long time, we have had many plans, but we have not had the ability to actualise the plans because we have not had a strategy how to get the money needed. But now we have a new framework to fund our plans,” President Ruto said.
He announced that the fund will finance the construction of 50 mega dams and 1,000 small and medium dams to support domestic use, livestock, wildlife and irrigation, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The President noted that improved water access within wildlife parks will significantly reduce human-wildlife conflicts in surrounding communities.
President Ruto also used the occasion to launch the expanded Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary, now covering over 3,200 square kilometres, making it the largest rhino sanctuary in the world.
The previous Ngulia Rhino Sanctuary covered just 92 square kilometres but held close to 150 black rhinos, far beyond its sustainable capacity.
“With more space, stronger security, improved genetics and lower density, Kenya is now ready to raise black rhino population growth from 5 per cent to 8 per cent a year,” the President said.
The government has invested $4.7 million (about KSh606 million) to strengthen protection systems in Tsavo, installing advanced surveillance technology and carrying out the world’s largest rhino monitoring and tagging exercise.
The move is expected to accelerate Kenya’s rhino recovery targets — 1,450 rhinos by 2030 and 2,000 by 2037.
President Ruto said conservation must directly benefit communities living alongside wildlife, positioning them as stakeholders in Kenya’s green economy.
Already, the Tsavo West Rhino Sanctuary is generating jobs in ranger services, surveillance, fencing, roadworks, construction and logistics.
“By 2030, this initiative is projected to create more than 18,000 jobs and generate over KSh5.8 billion in conservancy and tourism revenue,” he said.
Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano described the project as a landmark achievement in global conservation.
“This initiative is unmatched. It is a statement that Kenya is on the global map when it comes to conservation,” she said, noting that the launch coincides with Jamhuri Day Celebrations Week under the theme Tourism, Wildlife and MICE.
Taita-Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime welcomed public-private partnerships to tackle chronic water shortages in the county, saying lack of water has driven wildlife into human settlements.
“This can be resolved by supplying water within the parks,” he said.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director-General Erustus Kanga said President Ruto has spearheaded major reforms at the agency, including recruiting 1,500 new officers and reviewing conservation fees to improve financial sustainability.
“With the current tourism trends, KWS will not require funding from the National Treasury,” Kanga said.
Among those present were Ambassador Monica Juma, former US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman, Members of Parliament and other senior government officials.
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