Poaching was mainly conducted by armed bandits from Somalia and was prevalent in pastoral areas outside officially protected wildlife areas. The period before the establishment of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in 1989 was characterized by massive poaching, insecurity in the parks, inefficiency and low morale within the game department, partly a result of inadequate support in conserving and managing Kenya’s wildlife. In response to those challenges, a uniformed and disciplined KWS brought about a considerable improvement in wildlife security and helped to stabilize the wildlife and tourism sectors.