Nakuru businessman Maina Wakabura has slammed the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment chaired by Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria.
Wakabura points out that the Chairman of the Environment Committee ought to serve as a key bridge between Parliament, Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS), and other stakeholders.
This he says can be attained through ensuring legislative, policy, and financial support for KWS.
“By doing so the Chairman contributes to the protection of Kenya’s rich biodiversity and the sustainable management of its wildlife resources. But the current one seems to be aloof on the happenings,” stated Wakabura.
In a communication on his official social media platforms, Wakabura notes that there have been numerous incidents of human-wildlife conflicts in Nakuru.
He adds that such incidents have occasioned destruction and loss of property, but the current Chairman of the Environment committee was nowhere to help address the same.
“We have on numerous occasions had human-wildlife conflicts in Nakuru leading to destruction and loss of property, but he was nowhere near to addressing the challenges facing wananchi in seeking compensation hence depending on the fourth estate for publicity,” he stated.
According to Wakabura, Gikaria who chairs the said Committee has also failed to encourage collaboration between KWS and communities living near wildlife conservation areas to reduce conflicts and promote sustainable practices, failed to collaborate with other stakeholders to assess and improve policies governing KWS, such as wildlife management strategies, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and climate change adaptation and failed to participate in updating legislation, such as the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, to align with global conservation goals.
