EXPLAINER: What the Amboseli National Park handover to Kajiado county means

President William Ruto Saturday, officially handed over Amboseli National Park to the Kajiado County government, marking a defining moment in the journey toward devolution, justice, and community-led conservation.

Located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, Amboseli is one of Kenya’s most iconic parks, renowned for its large herds of elephants, breathtaking landscapes, and rich Maasai culture. 

It covers approximately 392 square kilometres and attracts tens of thousands of local and international visitors annually.

The park, gazetted in 1974 and later recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1991, has for decades been managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). 

However, its ownership and management have long been a subject of dispute between the national government and the Maasai community, who have traditionally lived around and protected the ecosystem.

Ruto’s handover of Amboseli to Kajiado County follows years of petitions and negotiations. 

The Maasai have always regarded Amboseli as ancestral land, serving as a crucial grazing and cultural space long before colonial demarcations. 

Following its gazettment as a national park, community access was restricted, sparking grievances over exclusion and unfulfilled promises. 

Successive administrations pledged to resolve the issue but failed to take decisive action until President Ruto’s administration stepped in.

In October 2023, Ruto announced his intention to return Amboseli to the people of Kajiado during a visit to the county. 

The declaration sparked excitement and renewed hope but also set in motion a lengthy administrative and legal process involving multiple agencies.

"Now, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers and authority conferred upon the Head of State and Government, I, WILLIAM SAMOEI RUTO, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, DO HEREBY ordain, declare, and direct that the management of Amboseli National Park is hereby vested in the County Government of Kajiado," the presidential proclamation dated November 8, 2025 reads in part.

"NOW HENCEFORTH, by dint of these presents and the deed of transfer herein executed, may it be known to all that it is hereby proclaimed that the management of Amboseli National Park stands returned to the host community through the County Government of Kajiado."

Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku even broke into tears as Ruto announced the handover.

The transfer effectively restores community stewardship while maintaining national oversight through KWS, the Wildlife Research and Training Institute, and the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.

Why it took long before Ruto’s announcement

Following the President’s announcement, inter-agency consultations began between the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), the Council of Governors, and Kajiado County Government. 

The discussions sought to ensure the handover complied with constitutional, legal, and conservation frameworks.

Key among the challenges was the need to amend gazette notices, establish a new management framework, and agree on revenue-sharing, staffing, and conservation standards. 

The Attorney General’s Office and the State Department for Devolution were also involved in crafting a memorandum of understanding that would protect Amboseli’s ecological integrity while empowering local governance.

During this period, President Ruto chaired several follow-up meetings with then Tourism Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, Ole Lenku, and KWS officials to fast-track the process. 

The final approval was granted after the Cabinet endorsed the handover and relevant legal instruments were gazetted.

What the handover means

Under the new arrangement, Kajiado County will take charge of day-to-day park operations, including tourism management, revenue collection, and community benefit-sharing programs. 

The national government will continue to provide technical and policy support, ensuring that conservation standards and ecological monitoring remain world-class.

According to Ruto, the move represents a model of shared prosperity and environmental justice. 

“This is not a withdrawal of national commitment but a renewal of trust in the people,” Ruto said during the Maa Cultural Festival in Kajiado.

"It is not the end of conservation; it is its renewal. The people who have protected Amboseli for centuries will now be at the center of its future."

Amboseli generates significant tourism revenue and supports thousands of livelihoods directly and indirectly.

The new structure is expected to channel more benefits to residents while strengthening wildlife protection and sustainable development in the region.

The President also acknowledged the contribution of Maasai elders, who have set aside more than one million acres as wildlife corridors and dispersal areas.

According to Ruto, this reaffirms their commitment to coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Ole Lenku stated that the handover marks the end of a decades-long struggle for land rights and ownership.

“By handing over Amboseli National Park to the community, President Ruto has overturned a historical injustice,” he said. 

Samburu Governor Lati Lelelit (second left), Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu (centre), and Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku (centre), during the Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival at Amboseli National Park, Kajiado County, on November 7, 2025/COURTESY

He said every administration has been petitioned by the Maa nation against that injustice. 

"We celebrate President Ruto’s courage to recognise that this is an injustice, but not only to recognise but to take a step to correct the injustice,” said Lenku.