Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, and his Narok and Samburu counterparts, Patrick Ntutu and Jonathan Lelelit, have declared war on anyone who would sabotage the Amboseli National Park takeover.
The leaders warned conservation groups against any attempts to slow down, the takeover of Amboseli National Park management.
“We know the conservation groups went to court seeking to overturn former President Mwai Kibaki’s similar directive in 2005. We shall ban them from operating in our counties,” said Governor Lelelit.
He added that Maasai Mara and Samburu game reserve were doing well and that Kajiado would be supported to manage Amboseli.
Governor Lenku said President William Ruto’s directive was timely and will help empower the community and county economically.
“It is the best gift a President could give to us. We shall not drop the ball and we shall ensure this directive is fast-tracked, we have no time for busy bodies,” said Governor Lenku.
His remarks were echoed by Governor Ntutu who noted that they would not allow anyone, including government bureaucrats to slow down the takeover process.
“It has been discriminatory. Narok manages Maasai Mara and Samburu manages Samburu game reserve. Why not Kajiado to manage Amboseli,” said Governor Ntutu.
Kajiado South MP Samuel Parashina said they all back the Amboseli takeover, adding that the community had enough land to allocate more for wildlife conservation.
The leaders were speaking at the Amboseli National Park during an inter-denomination thanksgiving prayers ceremony conducted by Archbishop Jackson Sapit of the Anglican Church.
30 other church leaders from the three counties were present during the thanksgiving ceremony.
Archbishop Sapit narrated that clergy from the Maa nation fully support the changes over Amboseli and pledged that they would pray for the community to ably manage it.
The thanksgiving ceremony was organized after President William Ruto on August 22, directed Kajiado County government to take over the management of the Amboseli National Park.
The president had also directed the Tourism CS Peninah Malonza to actualize the process between the national government and the Kajiado County Government.
Ruto issued the directive during the Maa cultural week at Sekanani in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Narok County.
“You have demonstrated beyond the doubt that you have the capacity to manage the resource,” said Ruto.
“Once we have done that, the county administrations should make good use of these monies so that it can uplift the living standards of the people,” he added.
