Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has issued) a one-week ultimatum to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS to allow county staff access to Amboseli National Park gates to collect revenue, accusing the agency of frustrating the transition process.
Speaking to the press in Kajiado on Wednesday, Lenku accused KWS of refusing to honour a presidential directive transferring the management and revenue-sharing components of Amboseli National Park to the county government.
The Governor said President William Ruto, on November 8, 2025, declared that all legal hurdles had been cleared after an assessment confirmed the county government’s capacity to manage the park.
“On November 8, 2025, the President signed and decreed that all legal hurdles were completed. The capacity of the county government to manage the park was assessed and found satisfactory, and Amboseli was handed over to us,” Lenku said.
According to the Governor, a comprehensive revenue-sharing framework was legally developed and took effect on July 1, 2026. He alleged that KWS had frustrated the implementation of the framework by denying county revenue officers access to the park’s entry points.
Lenku said the county government expected KWS to honour the transition arrangements within the stipulated period, warning that failure to do so would undermine the implementation process.
“We have given KWS seven days to do what they need to do as per the Transition Implementation Report. They cannot demean and frustrate the President’s commitment to the Maa community,” he said.
The Governor maintained that the county government was not seeking favours from KWS but demanding the implementation of what he described as a concluded process meant to benefit the people of Kajiado.
“KWS is outrightly sabotaging President William Ruto’s decree on our Take Over of Amboseli National Park. They are not doing us a favour. Amboseli is ours by right,” Lenku said.
Noting the presidential declaration was made publicly before thousands of members of the Maa community, Lenku said the county government would not accept attempts to reverse the transition arrangements.
He warned that continued resistance by KWS could heighten tensions among local residents and urged the agency’s management to resolve the matter within the seven-day period.
By Rop Janet
