The government sent Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General Brig (rtd) John Waweru on terminal leave last week, and appointed Dr Erastus Kanga, the wildlife secretary in the Tourism and Wildlife ministry, to act in his place.
If confirmed to this position through a selective process as required by law, Kanga, a research scientist and career game warden, will become the first KWS insider to lead the organisation in two decades.
Unlike his predecessors, he should hit the road running because he knows the organisation inside out and understands the issues and politics of wildlife conservation and management.
Dr Kanga will no doubt be aware that KWS has made minimal investment in vehicles and park infrastructure in the last decade due to financial constraints. This is a priority.
Secondly, there has been no recruitment of rangers and cadet officers for years. Ranger boots are thin on ground and the organisation risks a future without well-grounded mid-level managers to grow into senior positions of leadership.
Third, Dr Kanga, being both a researcher and game warden, should strengthen the capacity of park wardens to not only consume research information, but implement management plans as well.
Fourth, we hope Kanga will regard the media as a conservation and campaigning partner, and not a meddling busybody as has been the case in the last five years. Under Brig Waweru, journalists could barely reach senior park managers and scientists or even the organisation's designated spokespersons, which was bizarre for a public institution with research, educational, marketing and community conservation functions.
To quote the globally acclaimed broadcaster, biologist, natural historian and author, Sir David Attenborough, saving the planet is now a communication challenge. This means investing heavily in education, communication and community conservation programmes.
Finally, we pray Kanga will keep 'development' out of protected areas, and protect park boundaries with all his might.