Shwari Mramba, fondly known as “Runi,” was born and raised in Jumba, Mtwapa. His interest in marine conservation began at a young age, when he would voluntarily collect litter from the beach and report sea turtle nesting activity to Roger, founder of the Jumba Turtle Patrol.
Runi completed his primary education before becoming a fisherman. His commitment to protecting the marine environment led him to become the Community Sea Turtle Monitor at the Jumba Turtle Patrol project, where he has worked for over 12 years.
Over the years, he gained extensive experience in studying nesting, monitoring sea turtle nests, nest relocation, egg handling, and sea turtle tagging. One of his achievements was successfully rescuing a sea turtle that had become entangled in a ghost net. Acting independently, he safely freed the sea turtle and returned it to the ocean.
When Olive Ridley Project – Kenya took over management of the Jumba Turtle Patrol project in 2026, Runi continued in his role as a Community Sea Turtle Monitor, protecting sea turtles and helping ORP maintain a strong presence on ground.
When Runi is not protecting sea turtles or spending time fishing, he can often be found playing football.
