The Cabinet of Kenya has approved the transfer of Amboseli National Park from the national government to Kajiado County. This long-awaited decision, which comes after over a year of deliberations among key stakeholders and state agencies, is expected to revolutionize both the management of the park and the involvement of the local Maa community in conservation efforts. The announcement was made during a Cabinet meeting held at State House, Nairobi, and chaired by President William Ruto.
Amboseli, one of Kenya’s most iconic national parks, is located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro and spans over 392 square kilometers in Kajiado County. Known for its stunning landscapes and abundant wildlife, including elephants, the park generates over Sh1.8 billion in annual revenue. Under the new arrangement, the Kajiado County government will take responsibility for the management of the park, which was previously overseen by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on behalf of the national government.
The move to transfer ownership of the park to the county government was first proposed by President Ruto in August of 2023. At that time, he instructed then-Tourism Cabinet Secretary, Penina Malonza, to expedite the process. The President acknowledged the unique connection between the Maa community and the land, highlighting the fact that UNESCO has recognized the Maasai culture as one that promotes peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife. Ruto emphasized that the community’s deep-rooted knowledge and practices in wildlife conservation make them ideal stewards of the park.
This decision echoes an earlier directive by former President Mwai Kibaki, who had suggested that Amboseli should be managed by the Kajiado County government. The new transfer process began in earnest in November 2023, when the Ministry of Tourism formed a technical team tasked with creating a legal framework to facilitate the transition. The framework is designed to ensure that the management of the park will seamlessly shift from the national government to Kajiado County, with clear guidelines on governance, funding, and community involvement.
In April 2024, the Ministry of Tourism opened the process to public participation, inviting Kenyans to share their views on the planned transfer. This was an important step, as it allowed citizens from across the country to voice their concerns and offer suggestions regarding the future of the park. While the majority of Kenyans supported the move, a small section voiced concerns that the transfer would primarily benefit the Maa community, potentially limiting access to the park’s revenues for other Kenyan citizens. To address these concerns, part of the park’s annual revenue around Sh20 million will be directed toward Community Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, which aim to support local communities and development projects in Kajiado County.
Governor Joseph Ole Lenku of Kajiado County expressed his joy and gratitude following the Cabinet’s approval. He thanked President Ruto for fulfilling his pledge and expressed his satisfaction that the park would now be under the stewardship of the Maa people, its “rightful owners.” In a statement, Lenku noted that the approval represented the culmination of a lengthy process fraught with legal challenges. However, it also symbolized the strong support from the people of Kajiado, the Maa community, and the wider Kenyan public. He acknowledged that the public participation forums conducted across the country had demonstrated overwhelming backing for the transfer, reflecting the nation’s commitment to localizing conservation efforts.
The next steps in the transfer process will involve converting the park’s land from public land held by the national government to community land, which will be held in trust by Kajiado County. This legal transition will allow the county government to manage the park in collaboration with local communities, ensuring that the Maasai people’s conservation practices are at the heart of the park’s future.
This historic transfer marks a new chapter for Amboseli National Park and sets a precedent for how local communities can play an integral role in conservation efforts. It also reflects President Ruto’s broader vision of devolving key national resources to county governments, allowing for more localized and community-driven management. As the park shifts to local control, it is expected to foster better management practices, ensure greater benefits for the Maa community, and continue to be a vital resource for wildlife conservation in Kenya.
