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Our StorY
Friends of Nairobi National Park (FoNNaP) was founded in 1995 and is dedicated to assisting the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in nurturing and preserving biodiversity within Nairobi National Park and the broader ecosystem to which the park belongs. FoNNaP is working closely with KWS and the community members adjacent to the park on helping to develop and implement conservation projects around the park to help the park thrive and serve its purpose.
The ecosystem south of Nairobi National Park, which is commonly known as the Athi Kapiti plains comprising of Kitengela, Isinya and Kipeto and the Kapiti ranches is experiencing an upsurge of pressure on the survival of wildlife in the past years. FoNNaP has been very instrumental in ensuring open sections of the wet –season migration routes and dispersal areas historically used by wild animals. FoNNap remains committed to a cohesive conservation strategy allowing wildlife and community members to co-exist in the existing dispersal areas.
Friends of Nairobi National Park (FoNNaP) is a non-profit making membership Society and registered under the Societies Act of Kenya.

Our Mission
To assist and inspire current and future generations to keep Nairobi National Park alive, through engaging with KWS and governmental bodies, the FoNNaP membership, partner organizations and neighboring communities, to take action to protect and conserve NNP and its wider ecosystem.

Our Vision
To be the leading voice in positioning Nairobi National Park, as the World’s Greatest City Wildlife Park.

Our Values
- To expand the importance of the Park in the minds and hearts of Kenyans and visitors
- To keep the Park and dispersal area alive by ensuring nature’s flows are maintained and protected
- To defend the Park and dispersal area from negative developments
- To facilitate & enhance KWS capacity through FoNNaP’s expertise
- To influence political and high-level issues, such as the Wildlife Bill, development of roads
- To be a facilitator and negotiator, working with all parties, for the benefit of Nairobi National Park and the dispersal area
- To maximize voluntary participation and commitment of members
- To have a thriving membership, representation and leadership
WHO IS WHO
FOUNDING MEMBERS

David Western

Rosalie Osborne

Simone Ole Makallah

James Cavanaugh

John K. Atchley

Dr. Imre Loefler
Who is Who
Current Team

Davinder Sikand
Chairman of the Board Finance and Administration Committee

JIM KINYANY
Vice Chair
Recently returned to Kenya, Jim has been close to conservation all of his adult life. He is a past Chair of Uvumbuzi Club with who he toured widely in and out of Kenya, past director at AFEW and is passionate about Flora, Fauna, Wildlife, Communities and environment conservation done in a sustainable way!

IRINA WANDERA
Treasurer

Felix Mutwiri
The Secretary
Felix is a graduate of Maasai Mara University. He holds a bachelors degree in Wildlife Management. He formerly served as the Vice Chairperson of Kenya Inter University Environmental Students Association (KIUESA) and has worked on voluntary activities with Wildlife clubs of Kenya to create awareness on wildlife and environmental conservation.
He is wildlife enthusiastic with a growing passion in advocacy and ensuring the youthful voice is involved in protecting urban wildlife.
He loves Nairobi National Park and hopes to see it thrive and serve future generations.

Caroline Nkamunu Patita
Board Member
Nkamunu Patita holds a BA in integrated Community Development. She has over 14 years, experience working with indigenous communities. She is passionate community led conservation and indigenous knowledge leader.

Aseem Joshi
Board Member

Muriuki Githongo
Board Member

Philippa Crossland Taylor
Board Member
Who is Who
Team 2020

Gareth Jones
Chairman of the Board Finance and Administration Committee
Gareth has been involved in wildlife conservation for over 50 years. He was a honorary ranger (warden) for the South African National Parks from 1989 to 2001 . Gareth has been Involved in East African wildlife conservation since 2002 , focusing mostly on the Nairobi National Park. He writes various weekly media articles with photos to promote the park.

Trish Heather-Hayes (Mama Simba)
Treasurer of the board Finance and Administration Committee
Trish is an avid supporter of the Nairobi National Park and its lions. She knows close to all the lions by name and she is also part of the volunteers’ patrol programme, a joint collaboration of Kenya Wildlife Service and FoNNaP. She is happily retired after 36 years in a legal firm.

Jacob Tukai
Board Member Marketing & Education and Habitats & Wildlife Committee
An environmentalist by training, Jacob has worked on projects that resolve human wildlife conflicts and initiate sustainable land use planning within wildlife dispersal areas of Nairobi National Park. He has been instrumental in the re-establishment of a community wildlife rangers’ program managed by TWF. He is a self-taught graphic designer and passionate environmentalist.

Reinhard Bonke
Administrative Assistant Marketing & Education, Events & Finance & Administration Committee
A passionate young conservationist who has worked previously with different organizations covering key environmental thematic areas. A graduate from Kenyatta University with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Planning and Management. He majorly leads FoNNaP’s advocacy and community programmes.

Olga Levari Ercolano
Board Member Marketing & Education Committee and Events Committee
Olga is a second term as an active Board Member of FoNNaP. This year, she sits on the events committee. Olga is Familiar with all the big cat families in Nairobi National Park and she is a frequent visitor in the Park, monitoring the fauna and flora. Her main interest is to create awareness, through photos/videos and stories of different species of wildlife and plants in Nairobi National Park on social media.

Caroline Nkamuni Patita
Board Member
Nkamunu Patita Holds a BA in Integrated Community Development. She has over 14 years’ experience working with Indigenous communities. She is passionate community led conservation and indigenous knowledge leader.

Jagi Gakunju
Board Member
Jagi is a renowned conservationist, a keen ornithologist and a successful business leader. He has climbed Mt Kenya 14 times and was the founding Chairman of the Uvumbuzi Club, an organization devoted to discovering the wild places of Africa.

Gaye D’Costa
Board Member Marketing, Education & Events Committee.
Who we work with
Our Partners
Careers
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