Plans to Move People From Animal Paths Put On Hold

The Nation (Nairobi)

September 22, 2005
Nation Reporter
Nairobi

Plans to move people from migration routes for wildlife in Kitengela, Kajiado District, have been shelved.

"The Government will instead negotiate with those who have built structures on the migration routes to and from the Nairobi National Park to reopen them without necessarily moving," said Tourism and Wildlife minister Morris Dzoro.

The matter would now be addressed as per the recently launched wildlife policy, he said at his Nairobi office yesterday. "The policy has exhaustively addressed the human-wildlife conflict and will guide the Government in addressing the issue," Mr Dzoro said as he launched the Kenya Tourism Week.

Negotiations

"Negotiations will involve the possibility of opening a two-kilometre pathway to enable the animals move freely in and out of the park. Those who will agree with the plan will be compensated," he said.

The Government would further negotiate with the Tanzanian Government to ensure such routes were not blocked on their side," said Mr Dzoro.

Conservationists have expressed fears the park might become extinct in a few years if the Government does not act to ensure animals were able to move in and out of the park.

Revenue generation has reduced drastically now that visitors, including school parties, were no longer keen on visiting the park because animals' numbers have reduced.

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