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Kenyan businessman Humphrey Kariuki has been named a Patron of Nature by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), becoming the first African to receive the recognition. The announcement was made during the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.
IUCN officials said Kariuki was selected because of his support for environmental protection projects and his role in promoting conservation on the African continent. The organization described the appointment as part of its effort to bring more regional voices into global environmental leadership.
Kariuki is a longtime supporter of the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, where he has backed programs to protect and rewild the mountain bongo, an antelope native to Kenya’s forests and listed as critically endangered. The conservancy also works on reforestation and eco-tourism initiatives that involve local communities.
Outside conservation, Kariuki is the founder of Janus Continental Group, a privately held conglomerate with businesses in energy, real estate, and hospitality. Over the years, he has aligned some of his commercial activities with environmental goals, particularly in areas linked to land use and sustainable resource management.
The IUCN’s Patron of Nature program brings together prominent individuals from different parts of the world to help build partnerships, mobilize support and raise the visibility of biodiversity protection. Patrons work with the organization’s leadership to promote conservation priorities and attract funding for key programs.
Kariuki’s appointment comes at a time when African nations are seeking a larger role in shaping international climate and biodiversity policy. Conservation advocates say his presence in the program could help draw attention to regional challenges, from habitat loss to financing shortfalls.
