A committee to map out wildlife conservation areas in Kajiado County has been constituted.
This follows a presidential directive on July 24 that prohibits the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) from issuing licences and permits for various projects in wildlife conservation areas termed as key, especially in Kajiado, Machakos (Athi-Kapiti corridor), Narok, Laikipia, Taita Taveta, and Baringo areas.
In the meeting between the President and the wildlife conservation players, land management matters (ownership, adjudication, change of user) in Kenya were flagged as some of the issues affecting sustainable wildlife conservation and management in the country.
Consequently, it was decided that any further land subdivision be stopped and any change of land use in the identified wildlife conservation areas halted until the conservation policy is finalised.
President William Ruto further ordered the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning to fast-track implementation of the Community Land Act 2016 and also review the National Land Use Policy and the Physical Land Use Act 2019.
Kajiado County Executive Member (CECM) for Lands Hamilton Parseina said the directive will help solve the uncontrolled land use in conservation areas that sometimes comes with the subdivision of community lands.
He added that the multi-sectoral committee formed will draw up a road map for the implementation of the presidential directive.
Parseina revealed that Kajiado County borders the Nairobi, Amboseli, Tsavo West, and Maasai Mara national parks, and mapping out wildlife conservation areas will help minimise human-wildlife conflict that is rampant in the area.
He further noted that the subdivision of some group ranches in the county was done without mapping out wildlife corridors, and residents had already begun developments in those areas.
“We have embarked on mapping out key wildlife conservation areas, and of concern is the former Eselenkei group ranch, which was subdivided and titles issued to individuals. There are a lot of developments that are coming up in the area,” he said.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) County Warden Daniel Kipkosgey urged residents to stop encroaching on wildlife corridors and breeding areas as it exacerbates human-wildlife conflicts.
By Rop Janet
