Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has openly challenged President William Ruto’s plan to transfer ownership of Amboseli National Park from the national government to Kajiado County, insisting that such a move is unconstitutional unless the Constitution itself is changed.
Speaking during a public address, Omtatah argued that according to Kenya’s Constitution, national parks are categorized as public land and fall under the management of the national government.
He said that unless there’s a constitutional amendment, it would be legally impossible for the president to hand over the park to the county or to the Maasai community living around it.
“If you read the Constitution, it clearly defines national parks as public property. So, unless the president initiates a constitutional change, it’s not possible to give away Amboseli. That promise is misleading unless backed by a proper legal process,” Omtatah explained.
“Instead of talking about ownership transfer, the government should work on ensuring that the revenue collected from Amboseli helps uplift the lives of the people of Kajiado who have lived alongside this wildlife for generations.”
President Ruto had announced in August 2024 that the Ministry of Tourism should facilitate the transfer of the park to Kajiado County, terming it a necessary and overdue decision.
Later, on November 14, the Cabinet officially approved this transfer in a dispatch, stating that Kajiado County would take over responsibility for the park’s management.
“The Cabinet also discussed and approved the transfer of Amboseli National Park to the County Government of Kajiado,” the dispatch read.
This move came after sustained pressure from local Maasai leaders, residents, and Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku. The community had long argued that because they have coexisted with wildlife and helped protect Amboseli’s ecosystem, they deserved a bigger role in managing and benefiting from the park.
Amboseli, a world-famous wildlife reserve, was first designated as a Maasai reserve in 1906 before being upgraded to national park status in 1974 to preserve its fragile ecosystem. It draws thousands of tourists each year and is a major source of revenue.
Following the Cabinet decision, Kajiado County will be tasked with creating strategies for managing the park and ensuring it benefits local residents. Governor Ole Lenku welcomed the move, saying it would help deepen peaceful interaction between people and wildlife.
“We’re turning Amboseli into a third-generation park, where local communities and wildlife live in harmony. Our goal is to make conservation part of people’s livelihoods so that the park supports economic growth and co-existence,” said Lenku.
Join Gen Z New WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
