Kenya cedes conservation management of parks to county governments

(Nairobi – 22 August 2023) – IFAW welcomes today’s announcement by the Government of Kenya that it will cede management of some of its National Parks to local counties—including Amboseli National Park, where IFAW has partnered with local communities to support conservation for over 20 years.

“We welcome this new development, particularly concerning revenue sharing and its potential to benefit communities living with wildlife in Kenya,” said Maurice Nyaligu, Head of Programmes for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

“IFAW will continue to work with the county and national governments under this new arrangement to ensure continued benefits for both people and wildlife within the Amboseli ecosystem and national park, whose management now reverts to the County Government of Kajiado”.

Nyaligu said IFAW would soon convene a meeting with communities representing the Olgulului-Ololarashi Group Ranch (OOGR) to discuss the new developments and its impacts on IFAW’s long-term partnership with the group. OOGR, from which the park was created in 1974, surrounds 95% of Amboseli Park and has a long-standing relationship with IFAW.

“Today’s announcement is to be applauded and aligns with the IFAW’s Room to Roam initiative, which looks at the broader benefits beyond the national park for communities living in wildlife-rich areas,” said Nyaligu.

ENDS

Picture editors: High resolution professional images available on request.

Press Contacts:

Kenya
Jacqueline Nyagah
International Relations Manager
m: +254 722 607640 
e: jnyagah@ifaw.org

Southern Africa
Christina Pretorius
Director, Communications Africa
m: +27 82 330 2558
e: cpretorius@ifaw.org