REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. WILLIAM
SAMOEI RUTO, Ph.D., C.G.H., PRESIDENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND COMMANDER-IN-
CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES, DURING THE 2025 WILDEBEEST MIGRATION LIVE
BROADCAST BY CHINA MEDIA GROUP AFRICA
JULY 24, 2025
THE MASAI MARA GAME RESERVE
1. We are gathered here, in the heart of the Masai Mara, a place where the wild thrives, the land breathes, and nature puts on her grandest performance. This is the theatre of the Great Wildebeest Migration, one of the Earth’s most awe-inspiring and mesmerising natural wonders, one that has earned its place among the New Seven Wonders of the World.
2. It gives me immense pleasure to welcome the world to witness this miracle of life unfold, live from Magical Kenya, thanks to our visionary partners from China Media Group Africa. Your collaboration in bringing this spectacle to millions of viewers around the globe is not just a special broadcast; it is a bridge between nations, a symbol of the friendship between Kenya and China, and a joint celebration of nature’s breathtaking power.
President William Ruto during his tour of Maasai Mara. Photo: William Ruto Source: X
3. Ladies and gentlemen, what you are about to witness is no ordinary event. It is a thunderous, high-stakes journey with over 1.5 million wildebeests, flanked by zebras and gazelles, braving rivers, predators, and the unforgiving wild, all driven by the eternal quest for renewal. The Great Migration is life in its rawest form – chaotic, beautiful, sometimes painful, sometimes joyful, and deeply symbolic of nature’s resilience.
4. Every year, millions of these animals cross vast, unforgiving terrain in search of something better. They face danger, hunger, and uncertainty, but they press on. In their journey, we see the story of Kenya. Like them, we have often faced adversity. But we keep moving. We adapt, we rise, we up the game, and push forward together. This migration is more than a natural wonder; it is a mirror of our national spirit: Resilient, hopeful, and bold.
The world may come to witness the spectacle of nature, but what they truly encounter is the unstoppable spirit of the Kenyan people in their quest for the best. Only one place carries this story, and that is Magical Kenya, the home of original wonders. Let us protect it. Let us live it. And let us welcome the world to it.
5. This remarkable phenomenon is also living proof of Kenya’s towering leadership in conservation. Our efforts to protect biodiversity, restore habitats, and involve communities in stewardship have made the Masai Mara not only a wildlife haven but also a global symbol of sustainability.
President William Ruto attending a tourism event. Photo: William Ruto Source: Facebook
6. Consider this: In 1989, our elephant population had plummeted to just 16,000. Today, it has more than doubled, standing at over 36,000. This revival was not accidental. It was built on policy, innovation, and a deep belief that conservation must work for people as well as for wildlife.
7. Across Kenya, over 160 community conservancies protect 11% of our land, a bold experiment that has turned villages into vanguards of biodiversity and created a model admired the world over. This is where rangers patrol not just to protect animals, but to defend lives and livelihoods, heritage, and hope.
8. The Masai Mara, which welcomes over 400,000 visitors each year, is the crown jewel of our tourism offering. Here, sustainable tourism is a living reality, where communities thrive, ecosystems flourish, and travellers leave enthralled.
9. Our partnership with China, and particularly with China Media Group Africa, echoes this same philosophy – that progress and conservation can go hand in hand. Through the Belt and Road Initiative and other frameworks, Kenya and China are not only building roads and ports, but also building trust, understanding, and shared responsibility for the planet we call home.
10. Last year, Kenya welcomed 2.4 million international visitors, a 15% increase and a powerful signal of global confidence in our destinations. And the Mara stands tall among them not just for its wildlife, but for the warmth of the Maasai people, whose culture, hospitality, and guardianship make this landscape truly unforgettable.
11. Ladies and gentlemen, our mission is to grow tourism that is inclusive, regenerative, and deeply respectful of nature. A tourism that enriches both the visitor and the host and transforms travellers into ambassadors of nature and Kenya, a country proud of its wild beauty, conservation achievements, and unbreakable spirit.
12. Today’s historic broadcast is a powerful reminder of what is possible when vision meets partnership. It is also a call to the world to travel with purpose, to preserve what is precious, and to pass on a healthier planet to future generations.
13. To our friends across China, and to all watching around the world, I invite you to explore our treasures from the thundering hooves of the Mara to the calm shores of our coast, from snowcapped peaks to sunlit savannahs. Kenya is open, radiant, and ready to share her soul with the rest of the world.
14. Finally, and with deep appreciation, it is now my honour to declare the 2025 Great Wildebeest Migration global live coverage officially open.
Asante Sana
Xie Xie
I thank you.
