Amboseli Decision Challenged in Court

As indicated in our previous communication, Kenya's decision to downgrade Amboseli National Park's status, removes management authority from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and places it under the control of the Olkejiado County Council. This action was directed by the Minister of Wildlife and Tourism through Legal Notice No.120 published in the Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 70 on 29th September, 2005.

Kenya's decision, as anticipated, is already having far-reaching implications. Unconfirmed reports indicate that other council's have requested to have their parks downgraded including Chyulu Hills National Park which was awarded its National Park status just five years ago.

A coalition of advocacy and membership organization, however, has moved into high gear to challenge this decision. In fact, wildlife and conservation organizations from around the world, including the Born Free Foundation, the International Wildlife Coalition and the East African Wildlife Society, have signed a full-page Open Letter to the President published in Kenya's Daily Nation on October 6th.

The same coalition opened a court case challenging Kenya's decision to downgrade the Park. On October 13th this Plea was accepted by the High Court in Nairobi. The High Court has ordered that the Kenyan Tourism and Wildlife Ministry, the Kenya Wildlife Service and Olkejiado County Council appear before the court on the 25th of October.