Amboseli takeover nears end as teams decide revenue sharing

The eventual takeover of Amboseli National Park by the Kajiado County government could be complete in a week's time.

The park, considered by conservationists to be the home of the African elephant, will be renamed the Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve when the process is complete.

President William Ruto appears to be keen to hand over the park to the Maa nation after a rigorous year-long process that has seen more than 15 elaborate public participation forums held across the country over the past three months.

Dr Ruto now appears to have defied the pessimists about the park transfer, with the biggest opposition coming from some within the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which manages the park in southern Kenya near the Kenya-Tanzania border.

On Thursday, President Ruto rallied his Cabinet to approve the park transfer - paving the way for the conclusion of the process that will soon see the county government receive Sh1.5 billion in revenue each year.

The President expressed his desire to see the park returned to the local community so that they can benefit more from its conservation.

Following the Cabinet approval, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife immediately published a notice for the validation of the advisory committee at the Bomas of Kenya on Tuesday.

The inter-agency committee, set up by the ministry last year and chaired by Francis Maliti, has been at the heart of the process.

Legal notice

"The Cabinet approval is a big step in boosting the entire process. A legal notice will be published and the deed between the national and county governments will be signed. In the next one week, the process is on the home stretch," Mr Maliti said on Sunday.

Mr Maliti told Nation the committee was yet to finalise the revenue-sharing formula.

"We have been holding high-level consultations with all stakeholders for the best revenue-sharing formula. By Tuesday, we will have concluded," he added.

The Cabinet approval has been met with excitement in the Maa nation with the region's three governors — Joseph Ole Lenku (Kajiado), Patrick Ntutu (Narok) and Samburu's Lati Lelelit — declaring the transfer as the president's best legacy to the Maa people so far.

Earlier, Mr Ntutu said, "It is not a Kajiado matter but our matter as a people. We are united in this milestone because we know Kajiado will effectively manage it the way we have done at the Maasai Mara and Samburu game reserves. We shall offer the necessary assistance to Kajiado.”

On Sunday, Mr Lenku was optimistic that the process had surmounted huge challenges but with the President personally taking charge, there was no stopping it.

Historical injustices

"This is a huge commitment by the President that he is keen on correcting historical injustices afflicting local communities since colonial days. We have spent the year setting in motion all the necessary apparatus to ensure we are fully loaded to receive the park," Mr Lenku said.

The governor expressed satisfaction that education and the health of the local community constitute key areas of attention from the Amboseli resources.

“We have a community that has been deprived of its heritage through the myopic political competitions of yesteryears. We are glad President Ruto came in to resolve the matter. History will judge him positively," said Lenku

Amboseli National Park is in Kajiado South sub-County. It is known for its large elephant herds and views of the immense Mount Kilimanjaro.

It pays homage to the big four and boasts of the largest herd of elephants in the country. It is the second most popular park in Kenya after Maasai Mara occupying 392 square Kilometres.

Amboseli comes from the Maasai word Empusel meaning "salty dust place".