President William Ruto has defended his decision to return the management of Amboseli National Park to the County Government of Kajiado, saying the move does not weaken conservation but restores justice and strengthens community-led stewardship.
Speaking in Kajiado, Ruto said the decision corrects a historical injustice that left the Maasai community excluded from the management of land that once belonged to their ancestors.
He said the people who live closest to wildlife are not a threat to conservation but its strongest defenders.
“This transfer represents what Kenya must always stand for: justice, inclusion, and shared prosperity. It affirms a fundamental truth, that the people who live closest to wildlife are not enemies of conservation; they are its first defenders," Ruto said on Saturday.
The President said the decision follows extensive consultations involving both levels of government, conservation experts, and local leaders. He emphasized that it was guided by law, fairness, and respect for the country’s international obligations.
“I am fully aware that there are voices in the conservation community, both at home and abroad, who still carry doubts about this decision,” Ruto said. “To them, I say this: Nothing has been lost today; in fact, everything has been gained. This is not a weakening of conservation; it is renewal because conservation that is led by the people lasts longer, works better, and heals deeper.”
President William Ruto with Maasai leaders during the ceremony to hand over the Amboseli National Park to Kajiado County on November, 8, 2025. PHOTO/PCS
The President reminded the gathering that the Maasai had been custodians of the Amboseli landscape for generations, living in balance with nature before the park was gazetted in 1974.
The transformation into a national park, though intended to strengthen protection, left deep wounds within the community, which Ruto said must now be healed.
He honoured the late Francis ole Legis, Lenku ole Mpaa, and Lesinko ole Nkaitole for championing the fight to reclaim Amboseli, saying their courage and sacrifice would forever be remembered.
The President noted that the 2025 Deed of Transfer outlines a gradual transition, with Kajiado County receiving 50 percent of park revenue in the 2026/2027 financial year, 70 percent the following year, and full control by 2028/2029.
The National Government will continue to fund park staff salaries until June 2026 to ensure a smooth shift in management.
Under the agreement, five percent of all revenues will remain reserved for wildlife research, ecological monitoring, and evaluation activities managed by the State Department for Wildlife and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute.
Ruto assured the public that conservation structures will remain intact, with the Kenya Wildlife Service maintaining security and technical oversight across all protected areas.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife will continue to provide policy guidance and support to the County Government of Kajiado,” he said.
Signed by Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, Governor Joseph ole Lenku, Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee Chair CPA Kithinji Kiragu, the 15-year agreement is legally binding and renewable upon review.
Ruto urged Kajiado leaders to ensure the new agency managing Amboseli remains professional, transparent, and free from political interference. “Let us not allow politics, division, or greed to taint this victory,” he cautioned.
He praised the Maasai for setting aside more than one million acres for wildlife corridors, describing the gesture as proof of their genuine commitment to conservation. “
The Maasai are not asking for charity; you are asking for partnership,” he said.
Ruto said the transfer reflects Kenya’s spirit of devolution — giving power and opportunity to the people. “May the Maa people show the world that they are the true, faithful, and steadfast guardians of Amboseli,” he concluded. “May Amboseli rise stronger and prouder, its dignity renewed, and its future secured
