Plan for counties to run reserves

Part of a herd of some 1.5 million wildebeests crosses the Mara River in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve during an annual migration in August, 2006. A county speaker wants a proposed Bill to be amended to ensure county governments do not lose control of game reserves. 

In Summary

• The Bill which is sponsored by Majority Leader Aden Dualle, who is also the MP for Garissa Township, is awaiting its first reading.

A county speaker wants a proposed Bill to be amended to ensure county governments do not lose control of game reserves.

Isiolo County Speaker Mohamed Tubi said yesterday that if retained as it is, the Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill will deprive of counties that inherited game reserves from the now defunct local authorities their management rights, leading to loss of revenue.

He claimed that the proposed Bill only recognises national parks, private conservancies and ranches, but does not mention game reserves, which were managed by local authorities under the old constitution.

The Assembly, he said, will lobby for support from counties such as Narok, Baringo and Samburu to ensure they retain the status quo.

Under the new Constitution, wildlife conservation was transferred to the national government and now the counties with game reserves fear the Bill, if enacted, would exclude them from the conservation role.

“It is dangerous to let wildlife go out of counties because it cannot survive without the goodwill of the people,” said the Speaker.

Isiolo enjoys a large share of unique wildlife in its three game reserves (Shaba, Buffalo Springs and Bisanadi), while Narok has the famous Maasai Mara. Samburu County has the Samburu Game Reserve and Baringo has Lake Baringo.

“We have already written to them (the other county assemblies) to ensure counties are mentioned in the Act as competent authorities,” he added.

The Bill which is sponsored by Majority Leader Aden Dualle, who is also the MP for Garissa Township, is awaiting its first reading.

The County Speaker further said that the Kenya Wildlife Service should not manage wildlife, but only play a protective role. He added that the Constitution does not state that counties should be deprived of the management of wildlife.