Amboseli National Park has officially been placed under the management of the Kajiado County Government, marking a historic shift in Kenya’s conservation and devolution journey.
President William Ruto on Saturday presided over the ceremony, describing the handover as a milestone that restores local stewardship and allows communities to benefit directly from the park’s natural wealth.
“This transition is not just administrative — it is about ensuring that the people of Kajiado are central to the conservation and prosperity of Amboseli,” Ruto said during the signing of the Deed of Transfer.
The park, famed for its sweeping landscapes and large elephant herds against the backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, has been at the centre of debate for years over how local residents could share in its tourism benefits.
The transfer now formally ends decades of uncertainty about ownership and control, returning management to the host community through the Kajiado County Government.
Governor Joseph ole Lenku, who received the official instruments of transfer on behalf of the county, called the occasion a moment of “historic justice” for the Maasai people.
He said the move recognizes the sacrifices made by communities living alongside wildlife and reflects a new era where conservation and community welfare will progress together.
The ceremony featured the handover of several key instruments that symbolize the new management structure.
The Amboseli National Park Map, the first of these, officially defines the park’s boundaries and reaffirms its national identity as a protected heritage.
The Amboseli Ecosystem Management Plan was also presented, laying out the collective vision for safeguarding wildlife, flora, and natural resources while promoting sustainable development.
Another key document, the Transition Committee Report, contains the discussions and recommendations that led to the final agreement.
The Deed of Transfer, the central legal document, formally vests management in Kajiado County and recognizes it as the rightful custodian of Amboseli on behalf of the people of Kenya.
The Transition Plan outlines how responsibilities will be gradually phased in to ensure an orderly changeover.
Finally, symbolic carvings of the elephant, lion, and giraffe were presented to represent the park’s unique wildlife and the enduring spirit of the Savannah.
The transfer concludes a journey that began more than a century ago.
Originally gazetted as the Southern Maasai Game Reserve in 1906, the park was taken over during colonial rule and later became a National Reserve in 1948. In 1974, the Kenya Wildlife Service assumed management, transforming it into a National Park under state protection.
Today’s transfer completes that evolution, restoring shared management to the Maasai homeland.
Under the new arrangement, Amboseli will be jointly managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service and Kajiado County.
Revenue from park entry fees and tourism activities will be shared progressively — Kajiado will receive 50 per cent in 2026/2027, increasing to 70 per cent in 2027/2028, before full transfer by 2028/2029.
Five per cent of the total revenues will remain reserved for wildlife research and ecological monitoring,while the national government will continue paying staff salaries until June 2026 to support a smooth transition.
The agreement, signed by Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, Governor Lenku, Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor, and CPA Kithinji Kiragu of the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee, is legally binding for 15 years and renewable upon mutual consultation.
Annual progress reports will be presented to both the National Assembly and the Kajiado County Assembly, with the first review set for two years after implementation.
President Ruto said the transfer represents Kenya’s broader goal of devolving power and giving local communities a direct stake in protecting their environment.
“This is a celebration of heritage, community, and shared prosperity,” he said as the instruments were officially handed over.
