Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has sounded the alarm over the growing threat posed by commercial and selfish interests to Kenya’s conservancies. Speaking in Kimana, Kajiado County, during the historic handover of Amboseli National Park to the Maasai community, Mudavadi said these interests risk undermining decades of conservation progress.
“The biggest threat to conservancies is not the local community,” Mudavadi emphasized, noting that President Ruto’s decision to transfer management to host communities was more than symbolic. “It was a bold statement that communities are not enemies of conservation.”
The handover marked the first time that Amboseli National Park, one of Kenya’s iconic wildlife destinations, has come under direct community stewardship. The ceremony brought together leaders from Kajiado, Narok, and Samburu counties, symbolizing unity and shared responsibility in managing local resources. Mudavadi compared the collaborative presence of the three governors to a coordinated lion hunt, highlighting the focus and determination required for effective conservation.
Mudavadi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable development, stressing that local communities must be central actors in conservation efforts. Their cultural knowledge, lived experience, and deep connection to the land are vital for safeguarding Kenya’s wildlife heritage.
The transfer coincided with the final day of the Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival, a fitting backdrop for a historic moment long championed by Maasai leaders. For communities that have historically ceded large tracts of land for conservation, the event carried profound emotional and historical significance.
“This landmark decision resolves decades of debate over Amboseli’s management, honours Kenya’s heritage, and places the Maasai community at the heart of wildlife protection,” Mudavadi noted. He added that regions often labelled as marginalised are proving to be significant contributors to national development through reforms that elevate community participation in conservation and governance.
Mudavadi cautioned that unchecked commercial interests threaten to undo years of conservation achievements. He said the government is actively developing policies and regulatory frameworks to curb unregulated exploitation of wildlife habitats, ensuring that Kenya’s conservancies remain sustainable for future generations.
