After more than half a century under central government control, Amboseli National Park officially passes to the management of Kajiado County.

The decision was formalised through a transfer act published in the Official Gazette, which sets out the operational details of the transfer: management functions, funding, staffing, duration of the agreement and implementation procedures.

Under the new agreement, Kajiado County will assume full control of day-to-day operations, conservation, tourism and wildlife protection. The national government will retain overall supervision and ownership through the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

The KWS will continue to ensure conservation standards, research, monitoring and compliance with international commitments, as well as coordinating activities between different counties.

This is a significant achievement for Kajiado: the park becomes a new source of revenue and a strategic resource for local development. At the same time, administrative responsibility increases, with the obligation to protect wildlife, maintain tourist infrastructure, ensure safety and preserve the ecological integrity of the area.

The agreement provides for a gradual redistribution of revenue:

• in 2026/2027, 50% will go to the national government and 50% to the county;
• in 2027/2028, Kajiado will receive 70%, while the central government will receive 30%;
• from 2028/2029, the county will receive 100% of the revenue generated by the park.

Despite this, 5% of total revenue will remain permanently reserved for the national government to fund development activities within the park.

The agreement will have an initial duration of 15 years, renewable upon consultation between the two parties. It will come into force 21 days after the date of execution, set for 14 October.

The transfer of Amboseli comes after months of discussions between the government and local stakeholders. In November 2024, the Cabinet officially approved the transfer, on the orders of President William Ruto, who in 2023 had asked the then Minister of Tourism, Peninah Malonza, to hand over management of the park to the county.

With this decision, Kajiado joins Narok in the direct management of a natural area of national importance within the Maa ecosystem, home to some of Kenya's most iconic wildlife.

Amboseli had been administered by the national government since 1973, when it was officially declared a national park.