A high-stakes petition before the National Assembly Committee on Public Petitions has thrust the management of Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks into the spotlight, with renewed calls to overhaul the current framework to allow Taita Taveta County to benefit from the multi-billion-shilling ecosystem within its borders.
The county boss when appeared before the National Assembly committee on public petitions, Andrew Mwadime backed the recategorization of the Taita Taveta portion of the parks into a National Reserve, arguing that the current classification has for years excluded the host community from accessing revenue generated from their own land.
The governor told the MPs that, “That the current categorization of Tsavo East National Park and Tsavo West National Park whichdenies the people of Taita Taveta benefits accrued from established National Reserves.”
He added, “That Taita Taveta County is keen on tapping on the resources but is willing to leave the exclusive mandate of the Kenya Wildlife Service and attempts to have revenue sharing have not borne any fruits.”
The County which is the main petitioner before the lawmakers frames the matter as a precise legal issue whether the current designation of the parks effectively locks out the county from revenue derived from public resources, and what Parliament can do to fix it.
Through the County Attorney, Diana Katema argued that while conservation objectives have been achieved, the framework “fails equitable benefit sharing,” raising concerns over constitutional provisions that guarantee fairness in the distribution of national resources.
“A model that imposes conservation costs without corresponding economic benefit fails this standard.” She said.
The petition paints a stark contrast between Tsavo and other conservation areas such as the Maasai Mara, which the governor told the MPs that it generates billions annually for Narok County.
Despite its size and global recognition, Tsavo offers no structured revenue to Taita Taveta.
“Taita Taveta hosts a substantial portion of Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks and the County receives no structured share of revenue and all attempts at revenue sharing have failed”
He added, ‘’Comparative data demonstrates that similarly situated ecosystems such as Maasai Mara generate significant own-source revenue which is approximately Sh 5.16 billion annually, contributing up to 91 percent of county revenue, while Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks that is Taita Taveta portion which generate no structured local revenue.’’
The governor in his petition said that, “Communities adjacent to Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks (Taita Taveta portion) continue to bear the direct costs of conservation, including loss of life, livestock, and livelihoods, without corresponding economic benefit.”
To address the impasse, the county attorney Diana Katema told the MPs through a proposal saying that a joint revenue accountshould be formed to ensure transparency, accountability, and equitable sharing of proceeds.
“Without a joint framework the county participation remains nominal and the national control remains unchecked as disputes over revenue and audit are inevitable.”He added.
Adding that,“The Joint Revenue Account is therefore the legal mechanism that operationalises revenue sharing.”
The governor representing the county urged the lawmakers to act decisively by amending the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, establishing a revenue-sharing framework, and compelling disclosure of revenue generated from the parks.
Jimmy Mwamidi, MCA Wundanyi Mbale Ward who as well serves as Assembly budget Committee chairperson told the MPs that, “We have trust and confidence in this committee so that we get our fair share as the community. Taita Taveta community has suffered for over 60 years for not being able to access the resources which are within their reach. “He added, “We have never budgeted for more than Sh.7B in all our budgets.”
In a strongly worded conclusion,“The issue is not conservation. It is access to revenue derived from public resources held in trust for the people and that community has not merely been sidelined it has been excluded.” Mwadime said.
The Sessional committee chairperson and Kuria East MP, Kitayama Marwa, assured the petitioners that the Committee would retreat to compile its report after hearing submissions from both sides, pledging a fair and balanced conclusion.
