REPUBLIC OF KENYA SAMBURU COUNTY GOVERNMENT
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Samburu C ounty H eadquarters PO B ox 3 -‐ 2 0600, M aralal LAUNCHING OF COMMUNITY CONSERVANCIES – 16TH APRIL 2014. GOVERNOR’S SPEECH Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen; I’m greatly honored in joining you today to launch the new Conservancies while at the same time renewing our engagement and support for the existing ones under the Community Conservation Fund initiative, which we have established. Community based tourism and ecotourism has gained acceptance and popularity globally and has over the years been embraced in Kenya with Samburu County being one of the leading and key players in community led conservation through Conservancies. As one of the leading tourist destinations in Kenya Samburu County has so far established four operational community conservancies, all in Samburu East Sub-‐
County. As you are aware that our bio-‐diversity is one that is endowed with great potential and is a bed-‐rock of our resource base, and yet it still remains fragile and wanting in terms of its conservation and preservation. Our land is one of great topographical diversity and is home to rare and diverse wildlife species while our culture is a huge attraction to tourists. Ladies and gentlemen; there exist challenges that are undermining the existence, preservation and utilization of our natural resource base; namely; poaching, land degradation, human wildlife conflict, under-‐marketing of our potential among others. It is in recognition of the above facts and challenges that my Government is embarking on strengthening community conservation initiatives through establishment of a Community Conservation fund that will form a platform under which new Conservancies shall be established while extending additional support to the existing ones. In doing this the County Government will strategically be empowering and developing community resilience, transform livelihoods and conserve natural resource base. The benefits of bio-‐diversity conservation and Community based conservation cannot be under-‐scored as this will truly un-‐lock our natural resource potential and reenergize our tourism industry in addition to ensuring sustainable use of the same. The Community Conservation Fund which we are launching today will forthwith give way to establishment of four new conservancies which encompasses a wide range of support by the County Government including provision of four new land cruiser vehicles fully equipped with radio communication, employment of 100 conservancy rangers/scouts to start with, 10 base radio stations, 40 handsets, and logistical, technical and financial support that will run for three years after which the conservancies are officially handed over to the communities. We are also today handing cheques worth Ksh. 10 Million being grants in support of the four already existing conservancies. These Conservation initiatives ones operational especially in Samburu North Sub-‐County and as already witnessed in Samburu East will subsequently give rise to more tourist facilities, promote peaceful co-‐existence of communities, create more employment opportunities for locals, increase security for our wildlife and more important institute strong community ownership on bio-‐diversity conservation and protection. Community Conservation and Conservancies is by no means a noble course that will take this county to the next level as a leading tourist destination given that it will compound and add more value to our existing tourist utilities and therefore ensure that we maximize our tourist potential and tap the much needed income for improved livelihood and development of our County. I therefore urge all of you to support conservation activities in your different capacities and localities as we strive to secure our bio-‐diversity for your benefit and consequently for the benefit of the generations to come. Thank You and God Bless. H.E Moses Lenolkulal Samburu County Governor