Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) South Rift region national director David Mpatiany have lauded the move taken by President William Ruto to revert back the management of Amboseli National Park to Kajiado County Government.
Speaking differently, the two leaders said that the directive by the head of state is a great honour to the Mau community especially the people of Kajiado County.
While attending the third day of the Maa cultural event at Sekenani in Narok county on Wednesday, Mudavadi said that the gesture has given a vote of confidence to the Maa people.
"This shows that the people in Maasai Mara, Amboseli and Samburu are great conservationists and that have made visitors from all over the country visit our beautiful country," said Mudavadi.
He added that the Maa community are the best people and their attitude has symbolised the conservation of the environment and wildlife across the globe.
"This is why the president respected your decisions and allowed back the park to your hands because it took over 60 years to revert back to your custodian, " he said.
Elsewhere while speaking to the Star, Mpatiany said the Kajiado people have been suffering for a long without benefitting from the proceeds of the park despite being on the frontline to protect it.
"The president's move is highly commendable and this has portrayed that he loves the community and in terms we need to appreciate by fully supporting him," said Mpatiany.
He added:
"We acknowledge with gratitude and the Maa nation has received this news very warmly indeed."
The regional director noted that the gesture by the head of State may well have laid the ground for constructive engagement between the Maa people and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
"By nature, the Maa are a grateful people and having suffered a century of neglect and marginalisation. Any act of generosity to them, any deliberate gesture to mainstream the community in the national conversation will be rewarded handsomely in due course," he said.
While attending the inaugural Maa Cultural Week at Sekenani in Narok County on Tuesday, President William Ruto said that the national government will soon return the management of Amboseli National Park to the Kajiado County Government.
He directed the Tourism CS Peninah Malonzo to work at speed on how to actualize the process between them and the Kajiado County Government.
"You have demonstrated beyond the doubt that you have the capacity to manage the resource," said Ruto.
He added that after meeting the Maa leaders, he is now satisfied because of the history of the Maasai on conservation and said those involved in the process should start working towards the course.
The move made the Maa leaders shed tears of joy led by Kajiado governor Joseph Ole Lenku. Mpatiany also thanked Lenku for tirelessly fighting for the park to return to the local county administration from Kenya Wildlife Service.
"Lenku has portrayed himself as the best Maa leader that is why he has always fight the rights of the community without fear," Mpatiany said.
The South Rift KNCCI boss used the opportunity to appreciate and urge the Maa governors to forge for a common unity among all the communities.
He added that Lenku alongside his colleagues Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok) and Jonathan Leleliit(Samburu) leadership has made the community head on the right path in terms of economic and cultural aspects.
On Monday, Lenku said that the community is facing many challenges and it is time to forge a united front, discuss the matters and try to achieve solutions together.
On his part, Ntutu said the main focus of the cultural week is the unity of the community and forging a way forward in taking its position in regional and regional matters.
“Despite the unity agenda, it’s very important to bring the community's diverse culture together and deliberate on how to conserve it for future generations and preserve it and hand it to our children so the culture will not be eroded,” said the county boss