Kajiado County moves closer to managing Amboseli National Park with new transition plan

The County Government of Kajiado has moved a step closer to taking over the management of Amboseli National Park with the launch of the Amboseli National Park Transition Strategic Plan which will provide a legal framework for a smooth transition of the park, currently managed by the national government.

An advisory committee is currently gathering views from the public on the proposed transfer.

"We have created a plan to transit Amboseli to a third generation park where wildlife and communities co-exist in a harmonious way to integrate conservation into communities livelihoods. We will bring to the centre the true players in the Amboseli ecosystem; the community, NGOs who fund and support conservation efforts and national agencies," said Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku.

"I want to assure the people of Kajiado County that the coming back of Amboseli will not be in vain. We will ensure the management of this resource is going to be managed well more than it is today. I also want to assure the budgetary allocation for this will be included going in our coming budgets," Kajiado County Assembly Speaker, Justus Ngossor, added.

The Kajiado County Government at the same time allayed fears that the transfer will threaten the existence of the park as a globally recognised biodiversity hotspot.

In August last year, President William Ruto issued the directive noting it will increase conservation efforts at the park.

Ruto also announced plans by the government to remit 50 percent of revenue generated from national parks to counties in which the conservancies are situated. 

Speaking in Narok County during the Maa Cultural Festival, President Ruto noted that the national and devolved governments will share the returns equally since host counties play an integral role in ensuring the success of the conservancies.

Ruto added that Kenyans who have ceded parts of their land to the government for the purpose of establishing the game reserves will particularly benefit from the 50-50 split.  

“I have ordered the Ministry of Tourism to ensure that 50 percent of revenues generated from national parks should be ceded to the county governments in which the conservancies are located,” said Ruto then.

“The county governments should make sure that money goes to benefit the communities that play host to national parks.” 

He likewise designated  the responsibility of overseeing the Amboseli National Park to Kajiado County from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

“The Maasai community has assisted the country in the conservation of our wildlife and conservation areas. UNESCO has confirmed that this community and their culture are a world resource that needs to be protected,” he said,

“The Maasai community gave the land that is now the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Samburu Game Reserve and Amboseli National Park. By Executive Order, the Late President Mwai Kibaki said that the parks should be managed by the County of Kajiado and I confirm that this will be the case.”