Personal Information:

Nationality: Kenyan

Civil Status: Married

Date of Birth: 6th January 1961

Cellular: +254 721 655 172

E-mail: birds_naturalist@yahoo.com

 

 

Sponsoring websites:

http://10000birds.com/gathitu-james-wainaina
http://www.kenyaproffesionalsafariguideassociation.com

 

 

Career Objective

Enhance personal professional transformation by continuing working in conservation and research areas and contribute to welfare of wildlife conservation.

 

 

Education History

1976-1978 Elburgon High School 3rd division
1975-1975 Jomo Kenyatta High School
1967-1974 Rutere Primary School

 

 

Professional Working Experience

February 1994 – present Naturalist & Safari Guide
• Ornithological safaris in East Africa
• Wildlife Adventures
• Biodiversity Conservation (currently involved in Sharpe’s Longclaw conservation and awareness)
• Active participation in Friends of Kinangop Plateau Research and Capacity building programs and trainings in basic/fundamentals of birds
• Overseeing Development and Growth of Grasslands Biodiversity Working Group.

2007- 2009
Ben’s Ecological Safaris: worked as a Professional Safari Guide

2001- 2007
Heritage Management ltd, Intrepid safari Co., Great Rift Valley Lodge, Naturalist /Driver Guide

1994- 1999
Musiara Limited, Governors Camp, Loldia House: Field guide and accountant

 

 

Professional Training Opportunities

• June 2008 Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association KPSGA bronze level.
• March 2007 Fundamentals of Ornithology, Department National Museums of Kenya, Elsmere field study centre Naivasha.
• March 2007 field guide and Eco-training South Africa/ Heritage Hotels.
• October 2006 4×4 challenge off-road course CMC Land Rover.
• March - April 2006 and 2004 same period Basic communication in French, Kenya Utalii College.
• March 2001 Lake Naivasha catchments conservation and awareness workshop, Kenya wildlife services training institute Naivasha.
• April 2001 Group Management and Leadership, Nature Kenya, Elsmere Field Study Centre Naivasha.
• July-2001Kenya Forest Working Group.
• 1980 Accounts KASNEB.

 

 

International Exposure

1996 European Song Birds Field Research Project, Oscar Landscape Reserve, Hungary, Earthwatch Europe, the training was funded by European Union awards.

 

 

Community Service

1996 to date Visionary Leader and founder, Friends of Kinangop Plateau a local community-based Organization.

 

 

PERSONAL PROFILE

I arrived in Kinangop in 1966 at the age of 5 with my parents when the Kinangop land was being demarcated and distributed to the locals from the white settlers. The land on average by then was from 40 Acres to 200 Acres depending on the status of production. Most people who acquired land here were the previous workers of the white settlers’ farms. I can comfortably say that I belong to the second generation of Kinangop people. I am a father of two children: one a son who is eighteen and a daughter who is fourteen years old.

In the mid sixties wild animal e.g. Thomson’s and Grants Gazelles, zebras and buffalos were still roaming in the Kinangop Grasslands. I started my early school here in Kinangop. I developed my interest in nature at an early age in primary school as a member of Wildlife clubs of Kenya and Kenya scouting movement through to secondary school. After secondary school, I trained as an Accountant and worked for almost 10 years.

My accounting job didn’t stop my interest in nature. To enhance and strengthen my interest I joined various conservation organisations, including the Wildlife Club of Kenya (WCK), The East African Wildlife Society and East Africa Natural History (EANHS) now Nature Kenya. Back home, as a community contribution I made sure that every primary and secondary school near my home had an active wildlife club. I did this by paying the membership fee for schools to join WCK.

From 1990 to the present day I have been an active volunteer on the annual waterfowl census that has been organised by the National Museums of Kenya and Kenya Wildlife Service. My longtime association with National Museumsof Kenya enabled me to be selected to attend a month long Earthwatch expedition in Budapest (Hungary).

Friends of Kinangop Plateau (FOKP) was founded in 1996, with great assistance from Dr. Leon Bennun who was by then heading Ornithology Department at the National Museums of Kenya as well as head of EAHNS. This was my dream. Most of the best tour leaders and guides especially Ornithological Safaris mushroomed during his tenure at the Museums. By this time I was deeply in the inner circle of the real activities in FOKP and conservation in my home area. My first assignment in the field of research was in the late 1990’s when we did research to identify the 60 important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Kenya. Friends of Kinangop Plateau has over the time been one of the best Site Support Groups (SSG) for Birdlife International in its conservation efforts.

In the 1990s I preferred tourism industry as a guide, which is by far a better way to see more of nature all over the country than behind the desk with papers and pens in offices and city life. One day you’re in the Jade Sea (LakeTurkana) with different tribes in the deserts, the next day fishing in Lake Victoria, and wind then surfing in the sea or ballooning over the wildebeests and the breath taking savannahs. At times though I got so lost in the wilderness that I almost forgot my responsibility back home.

In early 2000, I forced myself to resign my duties in tourism for one year and restructure FOKP to accommodate all the people of Kinangop. This included expanding the group to the extent and the shape it has taken now. I became the group Chairman to lead by example. Now the group is doing fine even as I stepped down to go back to my usual job.

From this year (2009) I have decided to take a different route once again. I was very thrilled to read about the conservation work of Dominic Kimani, Luca Borghesio, Dr Muchai Muchane, and Charlie Moores and I have decided to work near home for the conservation of our threatened birds especially the Endangered Sharpe’s Longclaw. I will therefore work closely with Dominic, Friends of Kinangop Plateau, 10,000 Birds and National Museums to support the conservation of Sharpe’s Longclaw.

 

 

Annually

• Ngulia Bird Migration Project of Ngulia Ringing Group (Nov/Dec), courtesy of Nairobi Ringing Group and Department of Zoology Ornithology Section, National Museums of Kenya.
• Counter, African Waterfowl Census (Jan/Jul). Since 1990.
• World Environment days (June) since 1990, courtesy of United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP) and Nature, the East Africa Natural History Society.

 

 

Licences

• Driving Licenses 1997
• PSV 12/06/07 to 11/06/09
• Certificate of Good Conduct -22/05/07
• License to carry on a regulated tourist enterprise, Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife 2007

 

 

Membership/ Alumni

• Nature Kenya
• Kenya Wetland Working Group
• Friends of Kinangop Plateau
• Earthwatch International
• Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association

Dr. Leon Bennun
Director, Science and Policy
Birdlife International
Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 ONA, UK
Email: Leon.Bennun@birdlife.org.uk

Dr. Muchane Muchai
Head, Zoology Department
National Museums of Kenya
P.O Box 40658 -00100
Nairobi.
Cell Phone: 0722 286 133
Email: mmuchaim@yahoo.com

Mr. Zachary Methu Mbuthia
Professional Naturalist and safari guide
Origins Safari Company PO.BOX 48019
Nairobi
Email: zacknature@yahoo.com
Cell Phone: 0722141411

 

 

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This page is posted as part of our support for the Sharpe’s Longclaw/Kinangop Grasslands campaign.

For more information please go to Sharpe’s Longclaw, 10,000 Birds, and the Small African Fellowship for Conservation