Mombasa: The State Department for Wildlife, under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, has initiated a public participation exercise for the residents of Mombasa and Kwale counties to gather their feedback on the revision of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (CAP 376). The Act aims to align the law with the Constitution, enhance economic opportunities linked to wildlife, and address emerging issues in the wildlife sector.
According to Kenya News Agency, speaking at the event held at the Kenya School of Government Mombasa, the Deputy Director of the State Department for Wildlife and team leader, Kabaka Mukonyi, stated that the review seeks to harmonize the Act with the National Wildlife Policy 2020 and Kenya Vision 2030 while providing legal clarity in governance. Mukonyi emphasized that the process is part of a constitutional obligation under Article 10, aimed at enabling citizens and stakeholders to shape a law that reflects their concerns and aspirations.
Mukonyi noted that the proposed amendments will address long-standing challenges, including increased cases of human-wildlife conflict, unclear roles between national and county governments, and gaps in compensation and resource-sharing mechanisms with local communities. Residents of the two counties expressed support for the exercise but raised concerns over delayed compensation for wildlife-related damages, delayed response after wildlife attacks, lack of compensation for loss of livestock and crops, and restricted access to traditionally communal lands due to the gazettement of protected areas.
James Ochieng, an activist from Likoni Mombasa, voiced the residents' concerns, stating, "We support wildlife conservation, but many of us have lost livestock and crops without any compensation. It is as if the government favors wildlife over human life." Local administration representatives, including the deputy county commissioner and chiefs, attended the event, calling for a faster compensation timeline and better community involvement in decision-making structures.
Athman Fondo, a chief from the Mwembelegeza location at Kisauni, Mombasa, highlighted the issue of delayed responses, stating, "Many people have been injured and others killed by wild animals, and when the cases are reported, it unfortunately takes 5 years for the ministry to respond. How does that benefit a family whose loved one was killed by an elephant five years ago, and who benefits? So, we urge the government to check on that."
The Ministry's public forums, running from May 7 to May 25, are being held across the country. Citizens can also submit written memoranda to the legal office at the NSSF Building in Nairobi or via email to [email protected]. According to a statement by the Principal Secretary Silvia Museiya, read by Mr. Mukonyi, the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2025, seeks to modernize how the nation governs, conserves, utilizes, and shares benefits from wildlife resources. The Bill proposes reforms in governance structures, sustainable financing, human-wildlife conflict management, enforcement, research, and equitable benefit sharing with local communities.