By Sunday, July 12, tensions had reached a boiling point in the Amboseli wildlife ecosystem as a 14-day ultimatum issued by local leaders demanding that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) hand over the management of Amboseli National Park to the Kajiado County Government neared its expiry.
Armed KWS rangers were heavily deployed at the park's two main gates in anticipation of a possible confrontation, as hundreds of Maa community members prepared to storm the park and forcibly assume its management.
Despite the heightened security, tourism operations continued uninterrupted.
However, a last-minute intervention by President William Ruto, coupled with a High Court injunction issued on Sunday, dramatically eased tensions and averted what could have been a major standoff between the community and KWS.
At the heart of the dispute is KWS's failure to remit 50 percent of the park's revenue for the 2025/2026 financial year, which ended on June 30.
Under the three-year Transition Implementation Framework, KWS was required to remit 50 percent of the park's revenue to Kajiado County by July 1, 2026.
The county's share was to rise to 70 percent in the 2026/2027 financial year before the full transfer of revenue and management in the 2027/2028 financial year.
Under the arrangement, the county government would retain 40 percent of the remitted revenue, another 40 percent would fund community projects in education, health, water and environmental conservation, while the remaining 20 percent would be channelled to the Amboseli Conservation Area Authority.
Presdent Ruto formally handed over the Deed of Transfer in November 2025 during the Maa Cultural Week celebrations in Amboseli, attended by leaders from Kajiado, Narok and Samburu counties.
Last Tuesday, leaders representing the seven group ranches that make up the Amboseli ecosystem accused KWS of frustrating the President's directive by failing to remit the agreed share of the park's revenue.
Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku. He has challenged Maa community to dismantle barriers blocking women from leadership.
Photo credit: Joan Pereruan | Nation Media Group
Led by Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, the leaders vowed to lead hundreds of Maa community members into the park to forcefully take over its management, raising fears of violent clashes with KWS officers.
However, a day before the ultimatum expired and ahead of a widely publicised prayer meeting near Kimana Gate, President Ruto intervened and appealed for calm.
Governor Lenku told the charged gathering that the President had called him personally and assured the Maa community that the government remained committed to transferring the management of Amboseli National Park to Kajiado County.
He also directed Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano to convene a meeting with local leaders on Friday in an effort to resolve the impasse.
“The President has urged us to wait for the court process to be concluded. He said he understands the pain the delayed transition has caused the community and reiterated his commitment to ensure the park is eventually handed over to the people who have coexisted with wildlife for generations,” said Governor Lenku.
He added:”It may take two weeks, one month or even two months, but out of respect for the President, we will wait. Let our people remain calm.”
Following the President's intervention, tents that had been erected about a mile from Kimana Gate for the planned prayer rally were dismantled, while KWS officers deployed in anticipation of the threatened takeover stood down.
Instead, leaders held a brief prayer meeting and addressed residents under a tree.
The de-escalation was reinforced later on Sunday when Milimani High Court Judge Gregory Mutai issued conservatory orders.
The orders restrained Governor Lenku, his agents or anyone acting on his behalf from entering, taking over, interfering with or assuming control of Amboseli National Park or implementing the Deed of Transfer dated October 14, 2025, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The court directed that the application be heard inter partes on July 24, 2026, and ordered all parties to file skeleton submissions by July 23.
The conservatory orders stem from Petition No. E737 of 2025, filed on November 11, 2025, seeking to preserve the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the case. The substantive petition is scheduled for hearing on October 5, 2026.
Kajiado Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho accused KWS of neglecting the park in the lead-up to the planned transition.
“We have noted with great concern that the park has been neglected. Roads, especially those leading to the airstrip, have become impassable,” he said.
Kajiado Deputy governor Martin Moshisho.
Photo credit: File | Nation
Kajiado South MP Samuel Parashina criticised KWS for what he described as its hardline approach towards the local community.
“We welcome the President's intervention, but KWS should know that we have only postponed the takeover. We expect them to relinquish the management of Amboseli with the same urgency they demonstrated over the past week,” he said.
Olgulului-Olarashi Group Ranch chairman Daniel Letures warned that a prolonged legal battle could undermine both wildlife conservation and tourism.
“We want to see goodwill from the government and wildlife conservation agencies. The community has already set aside one million acres as an extension of the park,” he said.
Amboseli National Park, located in Kajiado South Sub-County, is renowned for its large elephant herds and spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro.
One of Kenya's premier tourist destinations, the park derives its name from the Maasai word Empusel, meaning “salty dust.”
Beyond generating significant tourism revenue for the country, the park remains a vital source of livelihood for the surrounding Maasai communities, making the dispute over its management one of the most consequential conservation and devolution battles in recent years.
