President William Ruto has directed Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Peninah Malonza to hand over the management of Amboseli National Park to the County Government of Kajiado.

Speaking during the official opening of the Maa Cultural Festival at the Sekenani Gate, Maasai Mara in Narok yesterday, Ruto also said plans are underway by the government to remit 50 per cent of revenue generated from national parks to counties in which the conservancies are situated.

“I trust and believe the Kajiado County Government has the capacity to manage the Amboseli National Reserve, and I direct the process to begin immediately,” Ruto noted.

The Head of State revealed that transfer was prompted by an executive order issued by former President Mwai Kibaki.

He, however, challenged the Kajiado County Government to create more land for wildlife conservation and also enable the devolved unit increase proceeds from conservancy.

The President also declared the Maa Cultural Week a national event that will be celebrated every August annually.

“As from next year, we will put a budget and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture should provide a clear framework in the ceremony so that we make it better and also make it a source of revenue for the Maa community,” Ruto stated.

The festival will now coincide with the annual wildebeest migration.
Ruto was responding to pleas from Maa leaders led by governors Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok), Joseph ole Lenku (Kajiado) and Jonathan Leleliit (Samburu), who also said that apart from Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Amboseli should also benefit from proceeds from the tourism sector.

Leleliit said it was a big mistake for former leaders of the defunct Kajiado county council to let the park to be managed by KWS while the land belonging to the community.

“This is one of the historical injustices that was committed to the Maa community and we will appeal directly to the head of state to have the park back to our people,” Leleliit said on Monday when the Maasai cultural festival week kicked off.

He said the Maa culture is the region’s second tourist attraction after wildlife .
“Our culture has brought thousands of international and domestic tourists to our region to witness, so we must protect our culture and wildlife territories in equal measures,” he said.

Ntutu said the main focus of the cultural week is the unity of the community and forge a way forward in taking its position in regional and regional matters.

“Despite the unity agenda, it’s very important to bring the community diverse culture together and deliberate on how to conserve it for future generations and preserve it and hand it to our children so the culture will not be eroded,” said the county boss.

Ntutu added that culture event is destined for the community to celebrate its cultural diversity annually but on rotation.

Lenku on the other hand said: “We will also use the occasion to educate the community on the dos and don’ts as well as deliberate the community position nationally,” said Lenku.

County boss further noted that the community is facing many challenges and it is time to forge a united front and discuss the matters and try to achieve solutions together.

Some 16 out of the 50 sections of the Maasai community displayed their diverse culture.
Narok is represented by seven sections including Loita, Purko, Moitanik, Keekonyokie, Siria, Uasin-Ngishu and Ildamat Maasai.

While representing Kajiado are Matapato, Kaputiei, and Kisongo sections of the Maasai while from Samburu county were Loodokilani and Lekuluk.

Also present at this colourful festival are sections of the Maasai community from Marsabit, ilchamus from Baringo and Maasai from the neighbouring Tanzania.\

Political leaders among them governors, Members of Parliament, chiefs, church leaders led by Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole and Ward Reps graced the fete.

The fete kicked off with the Maa Music day all. Sections of the Maasai will display their songs and dance followed by the Maa fashion day.