Save Amboseli Update - 8th May 2006
Dear Colleagues and Friends
Tomorrow is a very important day for Amboseli National Park.
My understanding is that the first full proper Hearing will
be held in the High Court in Nairobi on the 9th May to determine
whether the Government acted illegally in moving to degazette
the Park in the way it did. This whole process seems to have
taken an inordinately long time but perhaps we will now get
some clarity.
My understanding is that the Government, through the Office
of the Attorney General, has done the minimum necessary in order
not to be in contempt of court. In other words, although I am
not aware of any written pleadings being submitted by the Attorney
General’s Office, they have been represented in person
at the Mentions that have taken place so far. Thus, they remain
a valid part of the legal process.
On behalf of the many people who have written and expressed
their views on this subject via the http://www.saveamboseli.net
website, I hope that there will be no technicalities that could
cause the case to languish further. In other words, I hope that
all the formalities are carried out properly, that the judge
turns up, that representatives of the two sides attend and that
some clarity is established. What seems clear to me and to others
that I have talked to (as has been stated in the past) is; that
the move to degazette was illegal; that the removal from the
Kenya Wildlife Service of the income that is generated by Amboseli
could be fatal to Kenya’s wildlife as a whole; that there
are genuine grievances within the local communities around Amboseli
that should and must be better addressed; and that should Amboseli
be degazetted it could set in train a series of events that
could jeopardise the future of other National Parks and protected
areas in Kenya.
I have asked my colleagues in Kenya to advise me urgently as
soon as there is any news from the High Court and I will ensure
that this is posted both on www.saveamboseli.net and
sent to all those who have written to the site by email.
With all good wishes and here’s hoping that this costly,
time-consuming and, frankly, exhausting legal marathon is drawing
to a close.
Will Travers
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