On 8th October 2026, Tassia Lodge hosted the Lekurruki Community Conservancy Rangers Capacity Building Refresher Training, bringing together 18 conservancy rangers, the conservancy leadership and three partner organisations for a day focused on professionalism, the law, and the realities of protecting wildlife and community on the ground.
For a community-owned lodge like Tassia, this matters. The rangers who patrol Lekurruki are the reason elephants, wild dogs and other wildlife move freely through the landscape our guests come to experience and the reason the community can count on that landscape for years to come.
Who took part
- 18 Lekurruki Conservancy rangers, together with the Warden and Assistant Warden
- Conservancy Manager, Mr Simon Nantiri, and the Rangeland Coordination team
- Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA), led by Mr Jacob Ntukai
- Laikipia Conservancy Association (LCA), represented by Ms Valentine Kamau
- Wildlife Rangers Association of Kenya, represented by Mr Titus
Building on a strong foundation
After an opening prayer and introductions, Mr Simon Nantiri took participants through the history of the Lekurruki ranger team, recognising the support the conservancy has received over the years from the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT),be nrt left them and now we are trying to seek support from other partners
Each partner then explained its role. KWCA works to help every conservancy reach self-sustainability; the Wildlife Rangers Association of Kenya focuses on training rangers; and LCA serves as the umbrella body for all 32 conservancies in Laikipia.
Back to basics: Standard Operating Procedures
The core of the day was a refresher on the Conservancy Rangers’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), led by Mr Jacob Ntukai of KWCA. As he put it, KWCA brings the theory rangers put it into practice in the field. The session covered the minimum requirements for every ranger, including:
- Ranger roles and responsibilities
- How to correctly handle evidence
- Searches and arrests, as provided for by law
An open conversation
Rangers spoke openly about their daily work from the Assistant Warden and Corporal to patrollers and support staff and raised important questions about their own rights while on duty and how best to protect their welfare.
The Wildlife Rangers Association of Kenya outlined the full scope of a ranger’s mandate:
- Power to arrest and to conduct searches, such as of vehicles
- Investigation
- Environmental protection and anti-poaching
- Protection of the core conservation area
- Protection of tourism
- Protecting the community
Professional standards and structure
The final session returned to professional standards: how and when the uniform is worn, conservancy identification, and returning kit on retirement. Participants also reviewed the ranger chain of command Warden, Sergeant and Corporal including the Warden’s responsibility for community engagement, logistics, equipment and liaison with the police.
Why it matters
Well-trained, well-supported rangers are the backbone of community conservation in northern Kenya. Every stay at Tassia Lodge helps support the Lekurruki community and the conservation work that keeps this landscape wild. We are proud to have hosted this training and thank KWCA, LCA and the Wildlife Rangers Association of Kenya for their continued partnership.
Plan your stay at Tassia Lodge and see community conservation in action.