Details of the Amboseli hand over gazette notice and Deed of Transfer

As the third edition of the Maa Cultural and Tourism Festival enters its third day, one topic dominates every conversation: the historic handover of Amboseli to the community. It is a deeply symbolic moment for the communities that have given their land for wildlife conservation. The air around the park, home to four of Kenya’s famous Big Five, is filled with pride and reflection.

In a landmark move that redefines Kenya’s approach to conservation and devolution, the National Government has formally transferred the management of Amboseli National Park to the people of Kajiado, under the custodianship of the County Government of Kajiado.

The decision ends decades of contention over who should control one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife sanctuaries. The transfer, officially gazetted under Kenya Gazette Notice No. 15230, is recorded in Vol. CXXVII, No. 219 of 24 October 2025.

“This is a historical injustice that was committed against our people many years ago. Every administration has been petitioned by the Maa nation against that injustice. We celebrate President Ruto’s courage to recognize that this is an injustice but not only to recognize but to take a step to correct the injustice. So, it is actually like a country achieving independence,”  said Governor Joseph Ole Lenku.

He added, “It is very emotional. You will see tears flowing, you will see people celebrating; new songs have been developed, and therefore the Maa nation stands on the verge of history to say, “God has heard our cry, President Ruto has corrected an injustice.”

According to the community, the Amboseli Deed of Transfer brings the economic benefits of conservation directly to the people who bear the brunt of wildlife roaming in their land.

Margaret Stoni explained, “The wildlife is our ATM, ni kama kukamua ndovu upate pesa ya utalii,” loosely translating to milking the elephant through tourism. “Our children go to school, they live a decent life, they dress well, and it is going to be better now that we have our land back. We will protect our animals, the wildlife, and domestic animals.”

The handover follows a 2024 Presidential Directive and marks a rare instance in which a national park, traditionally managed by the central government, is entrusted to a county. The Gazette notes: “In implementation of the Presidential Directive, the Advisory Committee on the transfer of Amboseli National Park was established vide Gazette Notice 1939 of 2024… to advise on the framework for the transfer… and to ensure wide consultations and public participation across the country.”

Amboseli’s story is one of shifting custodianship. First gazetted as the Southern Maasai Game Reserve in 1906, it came under colonial control before becoming a National Reserve in 1948. In 1974, management passed to the Kenya Wildlife Service, making it a National Park under state protection. 51 years later, the 2025 Deed of Transfer restores shared management to the Maasai homeland,  a symbolic return of stewardship to its ancestral guardians.

“In terms of human-wildlife conflict, when you look around, you see the Maasai grazing their livestock; it comes with a cost. People die; people lose their lives, their property and their livestock because of this wildlife. So it is expensive to have wildlife in your land,” said Narok Governor Patrick Keturet Ole Ntutu.

“This land left the Maasai people until Ruto was elected. It belonged to the National Government of Kenya; nothing belonged to the people of Amboseli. We got one very courageous man,” said Samburu Governor Jonathan Lati Lelelit, adding that the occasion carried deep historical significance,  a moment, he noted, that symbolised the courage it took to return Amboseli to its rightful custodians.

Under Article 5 of the Deed, revenue from park entry fees and tourism activities will be shared progressively. Kajiado will receive 50 per cent of revenues in 2026/2027, rising to 70 per cent in 2027/2028, and full control by 2028/2029. Meanwhile, five per cent of total revenues will be reserved for continuous wildlife research and ecological monitoring.

“5.3 Five percent (5%) of the total revenues collected from Amboseli National Park shall be reserved in perpetuity for the National Government to support continuous research, ecological monitoring and evaluation activities undertaken by State Department for Wildlife (SDW) & Research Training Institute (WRTI).”

The Gazette Notice also mandates that at least one million acres of community land surrounding the park be set aside as conservation areas and wildlife corridors.

Governor Lenku hailed the transfer as “a return of Amboseli to its rightful custodians.” The county will coordinate conservation, tourism, and cultural enterprises through a new semi-autonomous agency, ensuring that residents benefit directly through income, jobs, and grants.

The Gazette obligates the National Government to fund park staff salaries until June 2026, enabling a smooth transition. Annual progress reports will be tabled before the National Assembly and the Kajiado County Assembly, with the first review set for two years after commencement. Signed by Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, Governor Lenku, Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor, and CPA Kithinji Kiragu, Chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee, the agreement is legally binding for 15 years, renewable upon consultation.