• He directed the Tourism CS to work on how to actualise the process between them and the Kajiado government.
•
Image: COURTESY
The national government will soon return the management of Amboseli National Park to Kajiado government, President William Ruto has said.
He directed the Tourism CS to work on how to actualise the process between them and the Kajiado government.
The President spoke during Maa cultural week in Sekanani, Maasai Mara Game Reserve, in Narok on Tuesday.
Maa leaders, led by Kajiado Governor Joseph ole Lenku, shed tears of joy when the President made the announcement.
"You have demonstrated beyond doubt that you have the capacity to manage the resource," Ruto said.
The head of state said the Kajiado government, which hosts the park, will add more land for the conservation of wildlife so it can increase the proceeds that comes from the park.
Ruto also directed that revenue should be shared between counties that host national parks and the national government.
"Once we have done that, the county administrations should make good use of these money so that it can uplift the living standards of the people who play a great role in conserving the environment and wildlife," he said.
Ruto said the Maa cultural week will now be a national event and the national government will play a big role to ensure its success.
"As from next year, we will put budget and the ministries of Tourism and Culture should provide a clear framework on the ceremony to make it better," he said.
Ruto was responding to pleas from Maa leaders, led by governors Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok), Lenku (Kajiado) and Jonathan Leleliit (Samburu), who said that apart from Maasai Mara in Narok and Samburu game reserve, Amboseli should also benefit from proceeds of tourism.
"This is one of the historical injustices that was committed to the Maa community and we will appeal directly to the head of state to have the park back to our people," Leleliit had said.
The governor said after wildlife, the other top tourist attraction is the Maa culture.
"Our culture has brought thousands of international and domestic tourists to our region to witness it. We must protect our culture and wildlife territories in equal measures,” he said.
Leleliit announced that the second edition of the Maa cultural week will be held at Samburu National Park next year.
Ntutu said the main focus of the cultural week is the unity of the community.
“Despite the unity agenda, it’s very important to bring the community's diverse cultures together and deliberate on how to conserve it for future generations,” he said.