By Dorothy Musyoka
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Kilifi County has joined hands with key stakeholders to spearhead a marine conservation awareness campaign at the Watamu Marine Protected Area.
Led by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in partnership with Bahari Hai, the sensitization forum focused on addressing critical threats to marine biodiversity, including turtle poaching, illegal fishing, and mangrove destruction.
“The exercise, spearheaded by the KWS Kenya and Bahari Hai, focused on raising awareness about turtle poaching, illegal fishing, mangrove destruction, and other marine wildlife crimes,” stated the ODPP.
Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Esther Macharia, led the ODPP team in the engagement, which sought to strengthen collaboration between conservation stakeholders and justice sector actors in combating marine and environmental crimes.
The forum brought together judicial officers from the Malindi Law Courts, led by Chief Magistrate Hon. Elizabeth Usui, officers from the National Police Service, and Probation Officers, highlighting the importance of inter-agency cooperation in protecting Kenya’s marine ecosystems.
The awareness campaign comes amid increasing concerns over maritime crimes along Kenya’s coastline, which continue to threaten marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
This joint effort underscores the ODPP’s commitment to advancing environmental justice and promoting sustainable use of marine resources through enhanced enforcement, prosecution, and community engagement.