Youth leadership is quite essential for meaningful youth engagement, according to Peter Moll, who maintains that “it’s by having a seat and a role to play, that young people will be able to push their agenda and have an impact in the development of Kenya.

With a great portfolio and track record on matters youth empowerment, wildlife and biodiversity, Peter Moll is without a doubt one of the solution-oriented Young Kenyan Leaders leading from the front. He Founded Stand Up Shout Out (SUSO) in 2013 to empower fellow youth and create spaces for meaningful engagement.

He recently got appointed by the Tourism Cabinet Secretary, as Honorary warden on the Southern Areas, which includes Nairobi and Amboseli National Parks.

I spoke with Moll about his passion for wildlife and biodiversity and youth, and the role of language in environment protection.

What fuels your passion in matters wildlife and conservation?

Without our wildlife, ecosystem and habitat, there will be no tomorrow for any of us. Securing the future of our flora and fauna will secure our futures too.

What exactly does this role require and what does Peter Moll aim to achieve in his 3-year tenure?

As an Honorary warden I have the power to arrest anyone contravening law in our parks. These include poachers. I’m also expected to oversee conservation education and community sensitization on matters of wildlife conversation, species and ecosystem monitoring and attend meetings, conferences and barazas.

In my tenure as Honorary warden, i want to ensure a reduction in human and wildlife conflict, that communities are engaged in park activities and that conservation, education and awareness are increased so that all players have a better understanding of the value of the Nairobi National Park both locally and globally.

You have also done a lot of efforts in championing youth inclusion in the National Wildlife Strategy 2030. Please tell us more about this?

We through, Stand up Shout Out (SUSO), lobbied the National Government and managed to put a youth component named Mabingwa within the National Wildlife Strategy 2030, that gives the youth of this country a government strategy to back up their engagement in conservation, allowing us to build the capacity of KWS, foster youth engagement at KWS, carry out international obligations and create a space for youth to have meaningful engagement within the conservation sector.

Peter Moll and fellow changemakers in Action

You also started the Adopt A Park Initiative, tell us more about that?

We believe that the youth have the skills/resources and ideas that can amplify conservation efforts and that it’s important to have the youth take ownership of their national heritage.

We have engaged nearly 600 youth and 80 KWS Staff and adopted five national parks. Below is some of the impact we’ve had in the five national parks we have adopted.

Nairobi National Park

• Invasive species removal
• Ranger housing
• Conservation education
• Plastic Free Parks Campaign, Waste management and clean ups

Tsavo East & West National Park

• Firefighting and disaster response
• Plastic Free Parks Campaign, Waste management and clean ups
• Drought Relief
• conservation education
• community engagement

Lake Nakuru National Park

• installation of the waste recycling station
• Community engagement
• Invasive species removal
• Plastic Free Parks Campaign, Waste management and cleanups
• Ranger Support with waterproof boots

What is your call to action for the Youth in Kenya?

We need to stop just complaining about issues and start asking “what is that we can do to solve those issues”. It’s also important to focus on being so good at what you do that you cannot be ignored, other than just whining that you can’t make any progress without connections.

 Peter Moll is also an Honoree of the Top35Under35 Awards