There is a need to streamline legal frameworks that foster land use management in order to ensure sustainable development and habitat protection.
Speaking in Kimana, Kajiado County during a stakeholder’s forum dubbed’ Judicial Dialogue on Habitat Protection and Sustainable Development’, Justice (Prof.) Joel Ngugi said proper land use will enhance biodiversity protection and secure wildlife spaces for conservation.
Justice Ngugi noted that there were existing gaps and challenges in the environment and wildlife conservation matters and streamlining the legal frameworks will enhance justice and promote environmental and wildlife conservation for posterity.
“We have to ensure our habitat and wildlife is protected by ensuring proper land use. Legal frameworks must be streamlined to ensure environmental justice,” he said.
The dialogue brought together different stakeholders such as the Judges and Magistrates, Big Life Foundation, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), County Government, Amboseli Ecosystem Trust, group ranch leaders and members of the public.
The judges and magistrates were sensitized on environmental challenges in Kajiado county, introduced to the applicable legal regimes and sensitized on local issues related to habitat protection and sustainable development.
Kajiado County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing, Urban Development and Municipalities, Hamilton Parseina, revealed that a county spatial plan that guides land use management is already in place.
The spatial plan which was launched in 2023 defines areas set aside for human, wildlife and livestock settlement, agricultural activities and modern modulated pastoralism.
According to Benson Leyian, CEO Big Life Foundation, proper land use will ensure environmental and wildlife conservation thus reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Leyian said members of the public should be sensitized on the spatial plan so as to enable them to understand specific areas set aside for wildlife, livestock rearing and human settlement.
This, he emphasized, will ensure that any investor buying land in Kajiado county knows is aware of the restrictions in place on how one can develop his property.
The Chairperson of Amboseli Ecosystem Trust Board of Directors and Olgulului Group ranch, Mr. Daniel Leturesh identified community conservancies as crucial wildlife and habitat areas which provide land connectivity and dispersal areas for wildlife in the Amboseli.
He added the need to develop a legal framework that will empower conservancies to become entities that can drive economic and social benefits to the local communities through meaningful engagements with the National and County Governments.
By Rop Janet
