Save Amboseli Update - 22nd November
High Court. Nairobi, KENYA: 24th
November.2005.
Today representatives of Youth For Conservation,
Born Free Foundation and Nature Kenya gathered with our legal
team - and representatives of the Ole Kejuado County Council
and KWS - in room number 72 before the Honourable Judge Nyamu
to consider matters relating to the future of Amboseli National
Park.
 |
| From left to right, Steve Itela of
YFC, William Wambua (Lawyer from Wambua & Musyoka Advocates),
Born Free CEO Will Travers, Born Free Kenya's Alice Owen,
and Pauline Muriuki from Nature Kenya |
This was not a hearing but a 'mention' at which the following
were agreed:
a) That the two separate actions, one brought by Born Free,
East African Wildlife Society, Youth For Conservation and others
and the other by Kenya Tourist Federation, Nature Kenya, the
Eastern African Environmental Network, would be considered as
one.
b) That a further 'mention' would take place on the 30th November
when the presiding Judge, the Hon. Emukhule, would set a date
for a Hearing.
c) That the Office of the Attorney General be summoned to appear,
having now failed twice to attend.
d) That the process be fast-tracked.
Although this whole process seems to be taking a protracted
period of time, in reality, it is moving fairly quickly and
we hope that a full Hearing will be set in the near future to
resolve this matter.
In the meantime, it is confirmed that the status of the National
Park be maintained and that the Park continue to be professionally
managed by KWS.
Informal discussions with our lawyers confirm us in our belief
that the actions of the Government in seeking to downgrade the
Park were illegal and should not stand. However, of course we
are taking nothing for granted. Our hope is that now the referendum
on the proposed National Constitution is out of the way (it
was defeated by 57% to 43%) the issue of Amboseli's change in
status will be resolved as a priority.
However, the matter of a more fair and equable distribution
of the assets generated by the Park should be properly discussed
and resolved to ensure that people and communities living around
the Park truly benefit and become motivated to protect the area
for the future.
Finances: The costs of the High Court action are approximately
$20,000 and so far we have raised (or received pledges) totalling
about $6,000 so, please, if anyone would be willing to share
the burden with us then I'd be most grateful (send emails to
traverswill@yahoo.co.uk
).
Thanks so much. Today marks another small but positive step
towards saving Amboseli for future generations.
Will Travers