Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has asked the Senate to investigate the recent handover of Amboseli National Park to the County Government of Kajiado, raising fresh constitutional and environmental concerns over the precedent-setting transfer.
Omtatah, while seeking a Statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Lands, Environment and Natural Resources, questioned the legal grounding of the handover officiated by the President on 8 November 2025. He argued that national parks are explicitly assigned to the national government under the Constitution, making any changes to their governance subject to strict constitutional and legislative thresholds.
The Senator said the transfer touches directly on the mandates of the Kenya Wildlife Service, the National Land Commission and the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013, which collectively define the protection, management and ownership of national conservation assets.
“We must safeguard national heritage assets and ensure that any governance changes strictly uphold the Constitution and public interest,” he said.
Omtatah requested the Committee to clarify whether the transfer was backed by the necessary legal instruments and whether public participation was conducted in line with constitutional requirements. He also sought confirmation on whether environmental assessments were undertaken to evaluate the impact of devolving management of the park to the county.
The Senator further asked the Committee to demand details of the revenue management framework that will apply under county control, including how gate collections, conservation funding and community benefit-sharing arrangements will be handled. He argued that without a clearly defined structure, the transfer may expose the park to governance gaps, fragmented management and risks to conservation outcomes.
Omtatah also warned that the decision could set a far-reaching precedent for other counties seeking similar control over national conservation assets. He urged the Senate to establish whether the handover aligns with national laws and long-term conservation priorities before such precedents take root.
The Committee is expected to summon the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, Kenya Wildlife Service, the National Land Commission and the Kajiado County Government to provide detailed explanations. Senators have indicated that the matter could trigger broader debates on the legal framework governing national parks and the limits of devolution in relation to Kenya’s protected areas.
