Why govt has rejected counties’ plan to take over Tsavo Parks
By Aloys Michael, April 15, 2026The government has moved to clarify its position on proposals regarding the management of Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, strongly backing continued national control despite ongoing petitions concerning land issues, boundary definitions, and community rights.
Appearing before the Public Petitions Committee at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano called on lawmakers to reject a proposal advocating for the reclassification of the two parks.
The committee, chaired by Vice-chairperson Janet Sitienei (Turbo), heard that the petition challenges the current legal and administrative status of the parks, raising concerns about local access and land ownership.
CS Miano argued that the proposal contravenes the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, which places the responsibility of protecting wildlife and natural resources under the national government.
She insisted that the Tsavo ecosystem cuts across four counties, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Kitui, and Tana River, making it a shared national asset that requires centralised and coordinated management.
“Re-categorising Tsavo would fragment a critical ecosystem and create competing management regimes that risk ecological instability and inter-county disputes,” Miano said.
She further defended the role of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), noting that national management ensures neutrality in the handling of shared resources and prevents conflicts over boundaries and tourism revenue.
“Keeping the parks under KWS allows the State to act as a neutral arbiter, ensuring conservation is prioritised for the national good rather than sectional interests,” she added.
The committee also considered a separate petition presented by Taveta MP John Bwire on behalf of the Nyario ya Kididi cha Bhatubheta Cultural Community, which raised concerns over the historical acquisition of Trust Land in Taita Taveta.
In response, Miano clarified that the land in question was legally incorporated into Tsavo West National Park in 1970, making it a protected conservation territory under Kenyan law.
“The land which has been part of Tsavo West National Park since 1970 is a protected area, and any encroachment or human activity amounts to trespass under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act,” she stated.
Efforts to review the status of Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks have intensified after the government’s earlier decision to transfer the management of Amboseli National Park to Kajiado County, following 52 years of central government oversight.