The Maa Council of Elders has threatened to mobilise the community against President William Ruto’s re-election bid unless the standoff over the management and ownership of Amboseli National Park is resolved.

The elders said the Maa community had played a key role in protecting and conserving the park and should be the main beneficiary of its resources.

Speaking during a meeting on Saturday, July 18,2026 in Kajiado Town, Maa Council of Elders member Julius Ntaiya said the community had welcomed the transfer of the park’s management to the Kajiado County Government and thanked President Ruto for the move.

“We were here in Amboseli when we were handed the national park to the Kajiado County Government by President Ruto and Governor Ole Lenku, and we thanked the President very much,” Ntaiya said.

Elders demand Amboseli benefits

However, the elders said they were concerned by reports that the transfer had not been fully implemented, with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) continuing to control key aspects of the park.

Maa Council of Elders member Kelena Ole Nichole said the community had protected Amboseli for years and should not be excluded from the benefits generated by the park.

“If Amboseli is not going to benefit us, why did we protect it? Why should other people come and eat the grass meant for our cattle while the animals are not ours? It has been taken away because of the use of certain powers,” Nichole said.

The elders’ concerns come amid a dispute between Kajiado County and KWS over the implementation of a presidential agreement on revenue sharing from the park.

KWS accused of defying Ruto

Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku recently accused KWS of refusing to implement the agreement, saying county officials were turned away when they went to collect the county’s share of revenue.

Lenku told the Senate Public Accounts Committee that Kajiado was entitled to 50 per cent of the park’s revenue from July 1, 2026, under a phased revenue-sharing arrangement.

“On the 1st of July this year, the county government went to the site to pick their 50 per cent share of revenue, and KWS said, ‘No, we have no instructions,’” Lenku told the committee.

Under the agreement, the county’s share is expected to rise to 70 per cent in the 2027/2028 financial year before increasing to 100 per cent from 2028/2029.

Maa elders issue Ruto warning

The elders now want the President to intervene and ensure the Amboseli agreement is implemented, warning that the community could reconsider its political support if the matter is not resolved.

Maa Council of Elders member William Kasio said the community had supported the President but expected the Amboseli issue to be addressed.

“We want to ask our beloved President, whom we love and respect, to return Amboseli to us. Do not come back to ask for our votes if you have not finished the Amboseli issue. If we do not get Amboseli, who are we going to vote for?” Kasio posed.

The dispute has since drawn the attention of the Senate Public Accounts Committee, which directed its clerks to summon KWS and the Kajiado County Government within 14 days to explain the disagreement.

The committee said it would seek clarity on the revenue-sharing agreement and the implementation of the presidential directive on the management of the park.