Nine members of Isiolo County Assembly have endorsed existing conservancies and formation of new ones, since residents benefited a lot from them.
The MCAs led by their Speaker, Hussein Halakhe said the current conservancies, under the Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT) had enhanced security in the area and neighbouring counties that have embraced the organization.
Halakhe said the emerging differences between two groups on whether to support the conservancies or not, were healthy since people are better informed than before and can make wise decisions.
The Speaker said that conservancies had also improved livelihoods of women at home as they provided them with funding to start businesses.
Halakhe made the remarks during the launch of Sh.15 million bursaries for secondary students and Sh.3 million for women empowerment respectively.
The Assembly members from areas covered by the five conservancies said they would not support those calling for their closure, while accusing them of not employing local people.
“We know the accusations against NRT and the conservancies they support that they do not employ locals were false since we know that local communities benefit a lot in terms of employment and also huge bursary allocations more than even what county government gives to the wards,” said Charri Ward Representative, Ali Dima.
Dima criticized the human right activists and County government senior officials for hiring boda boda riders to hold demo against conservancies and NRT, saying people should stop politicizing matters of development.
All MCAs said they would table a motion in the house to support additional animal sanctuaries and urged NRT to educate wananchi on the importance of having conservancies.
Meanwhile, three wards have already applied for conservancies, including Kina, Sericho and Cherab.
By Abduba Mamo/David Nduro
