The gov’t has issued a temporary suspension of all permits and licenses for development projects in key wildlife conservation areas across the country.
In an advisory letter by Felix Koskei, Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, has garnered widespread support from conservationists and experts who view it as a crucial step towards safeguarding Kenya’s precious biodiversity.
The directive, which emanated from a meeting between His Excellency the President and various wildlife conservation stakeholders, addresses pressing issues related to sustainable wildlife management.
Notably, it emphasizes the importance of resolving land management matters, such as ownership, adjudication, and changes in land use, that have a significant impact on wildlife conservation.
To achieve this goal, the presidential directives explicitly forbid the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) from granting licenses and permits for projects in designated wildlife conservation areas, particularly in regions such as Kajiado, Machakos (Athi-kapiti corridor), Narok, Laikipia, Taita Taveta, and Baringo.
The suspension will remain in place until a comprehensive conservation policy is formulated.
One of the key measures to be implemented is the Wildlife Corridors and Dispersal Areas Task Force Report of 2016, with the Athi-Kapiti corridor receiving high-priority attention.
The government has also taken decisive steps to halt land subdivision and changes in land use in the aforementioned areas until the conservation policy is finalized.
Furthermore, the President has directed the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning to expedite the implementation of the Community Land Act of 2016.
Additionally, the National Land Use Policy and the Physical Land Use Act of 2019 will be reviewed to include conservation as a recognized land use category in the country.
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To ensure effective execution of these measures, a multi-sectorial team comprising relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will be formed, spearheaded by the State Department for Wildlife (SDW).
Alfred Mwanake, the Chief Executive Officer of the Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association (TTWCA), hailed the decision, emphasizing that it will enable conservation actors to prioritize and organize their efforts effectively.
By promoting coexistence between wildlife and other nature-based enterprises and compatible developments, the move seeks to counter the global trend of biodiversity loss.
Lucy Waruingi, the Executive Director of the African Conservation Centre and Board Chair of the Conservation Alliance of Kenya (CAK), praised the high-level approach taken by the Kenyan government.
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She stressed that this unique opportunity would enable the stabilization of wildlife landscapes and safeguard the gains achieved through years of dedicated conservation work.
The advisory letter has been directed to key figures in the conservation and land management spheres, including Peninah Malonza, the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage; Zacharia Mwangi Njeru, the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development; and Soipan Tuya, the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry.
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