An environmental activist has filed a constitutional petition suing the Attorney General, the Tourism Cabinet secretary, and the County Government of Kajiado challenging President William Ruto’s plan to hand over the management of Amboseli National Park to the County Government of Kajiado, the petitioner argues that national parks belong exclusively to the national government and the transfer is unconstitutional.
The petitioner, Muthoka Kanyalo, through Chamia & Kamau Associates Advocates, wants the Environment and Land Court in Kajiado to nullify Gazette Notices No. 15230 and 15231, which formalized the transfer agreement signed on October 14, 2025 between the Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary and the Kajiado Governor.
Kanyalo argues that the transfer violates Articles 62, 67, 69, 186, and 187 of the Constitution, which vest the protection of wildlife and management of national parks solely in the national government. He insists that Amboseli, as public land held in trust by the state, cannot be reassigned or reclassified without an Act of Parliament.
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“The impugned transfer is an unlawful divestiture of public land from the National Government. It offends the Constitution and poses a grave threat to Kenya’s conservation framework,” the petition states.
The activist further faults the process for excluding the National Land Commission, which is constitutionally mandated to manage public land, and for failing to ensure genuine public participation as required under Articles 10 and 69.
He also claims that granting Kajiado County exclusive control discriminates against other counties with national parks which he says is a violation of Article 27 on equality before the law.
Kanyalo warns that the handover could weaken conservation standards, heighten human-wildlife conflicts, and erode Amboseli’s status as a UNESCO-recognized biodiversity hotspot. He maintains that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which has managed the park for decades, remains best placed to safeguard its ecological integrity.
The petition seeks declarations affirming Amboseli’s national status, orders halting Kajiado County from assuming management roles, and the nullification of all legal instruments effecting the transfer.
By Masaki Enock
