President William Ruto on Saturday presided over the official handover of Amboseli National Park to the Kajiado County Government, ending decades of joint oversight between the national government and local authorities.
The ceremony, held within the park’s iconic landscape at Kimana Gate, marked a major milestone in the country’s devolution journey, empowering host communities to manage and benefit directly from one of Kenya’s most treasured wildlife ecosystems.
President Ruto described the handover as a bold step toward inclusive growth and intergenerational equity.
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“By returning the park to the people of Kajiado County, we are ensuring that local communities are fully integrated into conservation efforts for shared benefits,” said the President. “This is a milestone in our journey toward inclusive growth and intergenerational equity.”
Originally designated as the Southern Reserve for the Maasai, and later renamed the Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve, the park has undergone multiple phases of ownership from ancestral stewardship to colonial administration and partial national oversight. The transfer now resolves long-standing questions over management and ownership, placing the park firmly under county jurisdiction.
The transition was guided by the 2010 Constitution, which provides a framework for devolving government functions. The Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, in collaboration with Kajiado County, coordinated the process, formalized through Kenya Gazette Notices No. 15320 and 15231, published on October 24, 2025.
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During the handover, several key instruments were presented to the county government, each symbolizing a critical aspect of park management. These included:
Amboseli National Park Map, officially delineating the park’s boundaries and contours. Amboseli Ecosystem Management Plan, outlining a sustainable vision for wildlife and habitat conservation.
Transition Committee Report, summarizing deliberations and resolutions that shaped the handover. Deed of Transfer, legally vesting management in Kajiado County. Transition Plan, providing a phased roadmap for operational continuity.
Symbolic Insignia, featuring carvings of elephants, lions, and giraffes, which symbolizes Amboseli’s iconic wildlife.
President Ruto emphasized that these instruments are not merely ceremonial but foundational to ensuring sustainable management and equitable benefit-sharing. He noted that the park’s future now rests in the hands of the host community, whose stewardship will shape its legacy
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The ceremony also highlighted Amboseli’s cultural and environmental significance. The symbolic carvings presented to the county government served as a tribute to the park’s biodiversity and its role in Kenya’s tourism and conservation narrative.
With the handover complete, Kajiado County now assumes full responsibility for managing Amboseli National Park, including conservation planning, community engagement, and revenue generation.
The move is expected to unlock new opportunities for local enterprise, eco-tourism, and cultural preservation.
By Masaki Enock
