After Kenya’s independence land losses increased by leaps and bounds. Part of the land left had become home to wildlife. The British put in place a policy for the Maasai Reserve to be either be partly vacated or leased out or for outright surrender to others.
The new Government took up that policy. This gave rise to the concept of “acceptee” which is responsible for loss of chunks of land in Transmara and Cismara areas, to the Kipsigis community. That community still surges unhalted for more and more
Land losses came by the process of land Adjudication. The Land Adjudication committees with Government officials teamed up to corruptly sell land to persons not entitled. These losses occurred through the hurried, unplanned subdivision of group owned land. The ignorance and at times, sheer crookedness of the new owners made things worse.
The part played by the Land Control Boards in land losses tops the list. Undeserved transactions are sanctified by means of illegal special Board meetings. These are sessions the consciously dutiful Board members are invariably not called to attend. Unless Government and Maasai leadership, is willing to address these weaknesses in the Government machinery of management or shall we say mismanagement of Maasai land, the looming landlessness is a sight to behold as it swells and unfolds.
It is suggested, for those willing to avert disaster, the Kenya Government included, that immediate steps be taken to put to an end the forced take over of group land by members of the Kipsigis community in Transmara and Cismara areas. As to lands lost in the adjudication stage, the Government is advised to return this to its owners. Group land should not be subdivided senselessly. The Government, should at once, relook into the whole matter.
The Maasai are victims of the ravages of wildlife. The British foresaw, that in the event of the Maasai showing a disposition towards improved pastoral or agricultural methods, those obstacles the existence of Game Reserve present should not be allowed to stand in the Maasai way. Decades have gone by. Yet no step has been taken to ameliorate these ravages. The burden of having to look after and share resources with the wildlife is still on the Maasai shoulder like ever before.
It is not an appeal out of place to implore the Government and the international touring community to devise means of tampering the effects of wildlife on the Maasai community. This is justified, in view of the demand of the world community that vestiges of wildlife wherever they might be, be preserved for the benefit of posterity.
The cost of that conservation should be shared by all “for whom the bells toll” in this regard. There are glaring injustices in this conservation. The compensation aspect is almost nil. The assessment of claims makes nonsense of the provisions of the Act. It is time the Government comes out with some realistic guidelines or else hell will break out into court.
It is noted that poor attempts have been made to allow participation of the people in the collection and utilization of revenue derived from the Game dispersal areas. The idea makes sense. There is a difficulty though. The Government has abdicated its duties. The responsibility of management of the collection of revenue both on behalf of the local residents and the Local Authorities was entrusted to what in Kenya is called the KENYA ASSOCIATION OF TOUR OPERATORS.
It was, wrongly believed at the time that these funds are better managed and looked after if other than a public body is involved. That was not to be. For the employees of this non- public institution behaved exactly not unlike those in the public sector. This non- governmental body misbehaved and ruined the new spirit of wildlife management both in the Reserve and in the dispersal areas.
Needless, to say, after a space of barely three years one Local Authority has broken ranks with KATO and bolted away. There are looming litigations against KATO for the misappropriated and stolen revenue.
The new Government took up that policy. This gave rise to the concept of “acceptee” which is responsible for loss of chunks of land in Transmara and Cismara areas, to the Kipsigis community. That community still surges unhalted for more and more
Land losses came by the process of land Adjudication. The Land Adjudication committees with Government officials teamed up to corruptly sell land to persons not entitled. These losses occurred through the hurried, unplanned subdivision of group owned land. The ignorance and at times, sheer crookedness of the new owners made things worse.
The part played by the Land Control Boards in land losses tops the list. Undeserved transactions are sanctified by means of illegal special Board meetings. These are sessions the consciously dutiful Board members are invariably not called to attend. Unless Government and Maasai leadership, is willing to address these weaknesses in the Government machinery of management or shall we say mismanagement of Maasai land, the looming landlessness is a sight to behold as it swells and unfolds.
It is suggested, for those willing to avert disaster, the Kenya Government included, that immediate steps be taken to put to an end the forced take over of group land by members of the Kipsigis community in Transmara and Cismara areas. As to lands lost in the adjudication stage, the Government is advised to return this to its owners. Group land should not be subdivided senselessly. The Government, should at once, relook into the whole matter.
The Maasai are victims of the ravages of wildlife. The British foresaw, that in the event of the Maasai showing a disposition towards improved pastoral or agricultural methods, those obstacles the existence of Game Reserve present should not be allowed to stand in the Maasai way. Decades have gone by. Yet no step has been taken to ameliorate these ravages. The burden of having to look after and share resources with the wildlife is still on the Maasai shoulder like ever before.
It is not an appeal out of place to implore the Government and the international touring community to devise means of tampering the effects of wildlife on the Maasai community. This is justified, in view of the demand of the world community that vestiges of wildlife wherever they might be, be preserved for the benefit of posterity.
The cost of that conservation should be shared by all “for whom the bells toll” in this regard. There are glaring injustices in this conservation. The compensation aspect is almost nil. The assessment of claims makes nonsense of the provisions of the Act. It is time the Government comes out with some realistic guidelines or else hell will break out into court.
It is noted that poor attempts have been made to allow participation of the people in the collection and utilization of revenue derived from the Game dispersal areas. The idea makes sense. There is a difficulty though. The Government has abdicated its duties. The responsibility of management of the collection of revenue both on behalf of the local residents and the Local Authorities was entrusted to what in Kenya is called the KENYA ASSOCIATION OF TOUR OPERATORS.
It was, wrongly believed at the time that these funds are better managed and looked after if other than a public body is involved. That was not to be. For the employees of this non- public institution behaved exactly not unlike those in the public sector. This non- governmental body misbehaved and ruined the new spirit of wildlife management both in the Reserve and in the dispersal areas.
Needless, to say, after a space of barely three years one Local Authority has broken ranks with KATO and bolted away. There are looming litigations against KATO for the misappropriated and stolen revenue.
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