Leaders from Taita Taveta County are rooting for enactment of legislation that will see 50 per cent of revenue from Tsavo National Park go to the local community.
Led by Voi MP Khamis Abdi Chome and his Mwatate counterpart Peter Mbogho Shake, the leaders have also asked the National Assembly to consider passing a law that will designate a specific section of Tsavo National Park as a game reserve.
At the same time, they have backed a proposal for the establishment of a well-defined revenue-sharing formula among the neighbouring counties that border Tsavo East and Tsavo West national parks.
“We want President William Ruto to fulfill his promise to the people of Taita Taveta County to have a quota of revenues raised by the Tsavo National Park allocated to our devolved unit. We also want the national government to provide compensation to the residents of Taita Taveta County for their role in generating carbon credits,” Chome, told the National Assembly Committee on Tourism and Wildlife on Thursday.
Chome added that when carbon credits funds are channeled to entities like Kenya Wildlife Services or any other organisation, it is imperative that those who are the host communities are duly compensated.
The committee chaired by Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki is conducting an inquiry into the human-wildlife conflict with a view to developing a comprehensive resolution that embraces public interest, the conservation of wildlife, and sustainable development.
Mbiuki asked the legislators to adjust their expectations as revenue collected by KWS from Tsavo and others are not even enough to sustain their budget.
Mbiuki explained that every year, KWS has been going to Parliament to plead for more resources to sustain their operations.