Concerns over ownership, boundaries and management of Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks took centre stage in Parliament after the government warned that any attempt to alter their status would undermine conservation and spark disputes across counties.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano appeared before the National Assembly Public Petitions Committee on Tuesday, April 14, where she opposed a proposal to reclassify the parks. She said the legal framework already places wildlife protection under national authority to safeguard shared resources.
She explained that the Tsavo ecosystem stretches across Taita Taveta, Makueni, Kitui and Tana River counties, making it unsuitable for fragmented administration.
"Re-categorizing it would necessitate splitting the park into three different management regimes, creating ecological instability and inevitable inter-county disputes over the resource," said Miano.
She added that central management through Kenya Wildlife Service ensures fairness in handling a resource that serves multiple regions.
"By keeping the park under National Government under KWS management, the State acts as a neutral arbiter, ensuring the resource is managed for the national good rather than becoming a source of intercounty conflict over boundaries and tourism entry points," she said.
The petition under review was submitted by Anselm Mwadime, who is seeking changes to the classification of the Tsavo parks. The ministry maintained that such changes would interfere with conservation systems and long-term ecological stability.
In another petition, Taveta MP John Bwire presented concerns from the Nyario ya Kididi cha Bhatubheta Cultural Community over Trust Land L.R. No. 249 of 1963, which they say was reserved for community use.
Miano told MPs the land was incorporated into Tsavo West National Park in 1970 and is now fully protected under wildlife law.
"The land which is currently part of Tsavo West National Park since 1970 is a protected area and any encroachment or human activities amount to trespass as stipulated in the Wildlife Conservation Management Act," she said.
On Kiwayu Island, Lamu East MP Ruweida Obo submitted a petition calling for recognition of the island as community land and raised concerns about private developments in Kiunga Marine National Reserve.
KWS Director-General Erustus Kanga told MPs that some tourism investors on the island deal directly with local communities, bypassing formal agency involvement. He added that irregular land allocations within the reserve date back to 1994 and are under investigation.
"All these irregular land allocations within the Reserve have been reported to relevant authorities for action including Ministry of Lands, National Lands Commission and EACC. The service is currently pursuing cancellation of the illegal allocations and titles," said Prof. Kanga.
He also addressed claims of encroachment in Kitui South, stating that KWS operates strictly within gazetted boundaries and is open to joint boundary checks with stakeholders.
MPs further pressed for clarity on how revenue from national parks is shared, calling for a more consistent and transparent system across counties.
The committee will continue consultations before compiling its final report for debate in Parliament.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google