Kajiado residents have taken a proactive step in addressing concerns with the Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill, 2025.
In a public participation forum organized by the State Department for Wildlife to address possible reviews on the Bill, Kajiado County Executive Member for Wildlife and Tourism, Jeremiah Ole Ncharo, addressed the requirement of management plans as a pre-condition to register as a conservancy, citing the costly nature of procuring one.
“This is not an ideal method to encourage citizens to participate in wildlife conservation. Hurdles like this one are disheartening to conservancies and that is not our goal,” he said.
With the major stakeholders present, certain concerns were addressed with the definition of conservation areas taking precedence.
The Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill 2025, defines conservation areas as an area set aside for wildlife conservation and include national parks, national reserves, national sanctuaries, conservancies or wildlife critical areas designated as such.
National Chair, Kenya National Conservancies Association, Jackson Mwato, sought reviews in the articulation of conservancies saying there were no lands set aside for wildlife conservation.
“We have to be careful on how we put across terms, especially in law making processes. This lack of clarity could risk duplication and limiting of the pastoral communities from co-existing with wildlife,” said Mwato.
County Attorney, Augustin Seleyian highlighted that the Bill needs to be clear on who maintains the register for conservancies, urging for the need for a clear distinction to avoid a lot of bureaucracies and time-consuming processes.
“All registration should be under one jurisdiction, either the service or authority. This is to make it a clear process for the conservancies,” Augustin said.
Women Conservation Network, Enkakenya Sidai representative, Eve Merin advocated for a deliberate move to include everyone in wildlife conservation down to the grassroots level.
“The Women, Youth, and People With Disability need proper representation and recognition in their Wildlife Conservation and Management efforts”, emphasized Merin.
South Rift Association of Land Owners (SORALO), representative Parashina Lampat, cited that consumptive use of wildlife should include game ranching of large animals such as wildebeests, impalas and ostriches and not just small birds as stipulated in the bill.
“Our people co-exist with these animals, and therefore game ranching will serve as a way to revolutionize wildlife conservation and Management”, said Lampat.
“Animal damage compensation mandate should be handed to the county government for small compensation amounting below a Sh1million. There is a need to include marine species in animal/crop damage compensation”, said Lampat.
The State Department for Wildlife and Tourism affirmed their commitment to taking the reviews and suggestions seriously and their dedication to capturing each and every citizen’s views on the Bill.
By Lauryn Nailantei
