Poor governance threatens to collapse elephant sanctuary (Kenya)
Poor governance threatens to collapse elephant sanctuary (Kenya)
Gilbert Koech, The Star
July 20, 2021
See link
https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/rift-valley/2021-07-19-poor-governance-threatens-to-collapse-elephant-sanctuary/
for photo.
Poor governance and lack of accountability have been cited as some of the
challenges threatening to collapse the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary.
A 10-member task force formed under the leadership of the Samburu East
Deputy county commissioner Puis Murugu on May 17, 2021 notes that there was
no reporting on revenue performance as the sanctuary accountant is based at
Lewa. “Currently the sanctuary has a deficit of 37 million to fully
operate. There was no evidence of revenue forecasting model,” the task
force report released July 1 read in part.
The report said there was no analytical review undertaken to explain areas
of income stream non-performance. “The intellectual property for cloud
donation is still at the hands of the partner, making the operation of the
sanctuary difficult and could not account for all funds allocated to the
sanctuary.”
The team further reported that the sanctuary does not have an internal
audit team or committee as well as a risk management policy.
The report showed there is no matrix for implementation and follow up of
audit recommendations. "There is a serious mistrust between the community,
management boards and partners," it read in part.
The sanctuary is a partnership between the Namunyak wildlife
conservancy—one of the oldest conservancies in the northern Kenya
corridor—Samburu County government, Kenya Wildlife Service, Northern
Rangelands Trust, San Diego Zoo, Conservation International, Task trust,
the Nature Conservancy and Save the Elephants among other partners.
In view of the challenges, the task force recommended the formation of an
advisory committee at the county level inclusive of the county and national
government officials, KWS and partners. It also called for the review of
the Namunyak board structure to include KWS, KFS, National and county
government oversight.
The task force said the sanctuary management committee needs to be over
sighted by Namunyak and county advisory boards while the sanctuary
management board to be headed by a project manager, assistant and other
relevant departments.
The team recommended the roles of partners be re-aligned and the sanctuary
to have its own autonomous account where all donor funds are channelled.
It also called for the formulation of clear laws.
The sanctuary in Ngilai West, Samburu East subcounty was established by
Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust to rescue orphaned and abandoned
elephant calves and re-wild them when mature enough. The sanctuary was
opened on August 20, 2016 and it is the first community-owned elephant
orphanage in Africa and was designed to benefit the local community by
improving their livelihoods.
Conservancies are estimated to contribute about Sh150 million to the
economy of Samburu East subcounty and employ over 2,000 people directly and
20,000 indirectly.
Namunyak offers a wildlife experience that reflects the successful
community-based wildlife management effort. Established in 1995, the
conservancy covers about 850,000 acres in the Matthews Mountain Range and
is recognised as one of Kenya’s best indigenous wildernesses.
General conservancy oversight is managed by an umbrella committee assisted
by three distinct unit boards that include members of the community.
Revenue is generated through lodging fees at Sarara camp, treehouse, Reteti
elephant sanctuary, Kitich camp and also its conservation fees, which are
dedicated to safeguarding its ecosystem and wildlife protection, water
resource development, educational initiatives and healthcare resources for
the community.
The efforts of the community to effectively balance their needs with
safeguarding and preservation of wildlife and nature has made Namunyak a
safe home for African wild dogs, gravy zebras, gerenuks, reticulated
giraffes, de brazza colobus monkeys and other endangered species. The
conservancy is also experiencing a steady increase in populations of kudus,
elephants, buffalos, and other herbivores, as well as rising numbers of
leopards, lions and other predators.
The Reteti elephant sanctuary and Namunyak wildlife conservancy deal has
stipulated clear roles and mandates between KWS, the local community and
partners to ensure smooth operations and management of the sanctuary.
Great milestones have been achieved to date amid numerous challenges
experienced in the sanctuary due to conflict of interest between the
community, Northern Rangeland Trust and partners. The problems experienced
in the sanctuary climaxed in July 2019 when the community and staff members
went on a go-slow which almost paralysed operations of the sanctuary.
Following the challenges experienced, the national government, KWS and
partners intervened to save sanctuary by forming a task force.