Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has warned that unregulated commercial and selfish interests driven by greed pose the greatest threat to conservancy efforts in the country.
Speaking in Kimana, Kajiado County, on November 8, 2025, during the historic transfer of the management of Amboseli National Park from the national government to the local Maasai community, Mudavadi said the government remains committed to sustainable conservation that puts communities at the centre.
He said the government, through its relevant agencies, continues to develop policies and frameworks that will enhance the restoration and protection of conservancies, stressing the need to combat commercial interests that undermine conservation.
“Today, the President has demystified that the biggest threat to conservancy was not the Maasai community,” Mudavadi said.
“When President Ruto handed over the instruments of ownership, it was more than a ceremonial gesture—it was a bold statement that communities are not enemies of conservation.”
The Prime Cabinet Secretary said history has been made in the heart of Maa land, where the communities of Kajiado, Narok, and Samburu have come together to script a story that will echo for generations.
“The presence of the three governors—Joseph Ole Lenku of Kajiado, Patrick Ole Ntutu of Narok, and Jonathan Lati Lelelit of Samburu—together with the people of these Maa-speaking counties, demonstrates unity, focus, and determination, much like lions hunting in a park,” he noted.
Mudavadi praised President Ruto for fulfilling a long-standing aspiration of the Maasai community by returning Amboseli to their management.
“I want to sincerely thank the President for returning Amboseli into the hands of the Maasai community. This follows the submission of a proposal to the Cabinet and the completion of all legally required procedures. Now, the whole world has witnessed it,” he said.
“Our forefathers, including Lenana, Ole Tip Tip, John Keen, and Ole Ntimama, can now rest in peace because what they fought for over the years and generations has finally been fulfilled by President Ruto,” he added.
The handover, which coincided with the final day of the third Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival, was described as a deeply symbolic moment for communities that have long supported wildlife conservation.
Mudavadi further urged the redefinition of the term marginalized, noting that regions once considered excluded are now becoming resourceful contributors to Kenya’s sustainable growth.
He said the transfer of Amboseli marks a landmark step in redefining Kenya’s approach to conservation, devolution, and coexistence between people, wildlife, and the environment.
