Narok County has enacted the Narok County Wildlife Conservancies Act, 2026, establishing a dedicated fund to finance conservation programmes and strengthen community conservancies across the county. The legislation, dated August 5, 2026, creates the Wildlife Conservancies Fund, which will receive at least two percent of the county government’s most recently audited revenue, supplemented by grants, gifts, donations, and other contributions.
The funds will support conservation activities, improve conservancy operations, and provide financial assistance to families affected by human-wildlife conflict. The law mandates proper financial management, annual audits, and public reporting to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of conservation funds.
The legislation places community participation at the heart of conservation efforts. It seeks to empower local communities by supporting the establishment of conservancies, promoting conservation education, and encouraging partnerships with government agencies and conservation organizations. The Act also includes mechanisms to support families affected by wildlife attacks while promoting research on wildlife populations, habitat conditions, water resources, and human-wildlife conflict.
To ensure inclusivity, the law requires public participation, transparency, dialogue, and representation of youth, marginalized groups, and persons with disabilities in conservation governance. The Narok County Wildlife Conservancies Board will coordinate these efforts, working to improve conservancy governance and strengthen community involvement in protecting the Greater Mara Ecosystem.
County leaders believe the legislation will help balance wildlife conservation with socio-economic development by ensuring local communities become direct beneficiaries of conservation efforts. The Act applies to all wildlife conservancies in Narok and seeks to promote their establishment, sustainability, and long-term development through collaboration between communities, the county government, and conservation partners.
A central feature is the creation of the Narok County Wildlife Conservancies Board, which will oversee conservancy management, coordinate conservation programmes, support infrastructure development, and work with the Kenya Wildlife Service to recognize conservancies. The Board will also promote community participation, supervise conservation programmes, and ensure equitable access to conservation funding.
The new financing model aims to secure sustainable conservation while addressing economic challenges faced by communities living near wildlife habitats, marking a significant step toward integrated conservation and community development in the region.