Conceptions of Wild Animal Ownership in Kenya: Rights of Access, Protection and Semantics

A recent field trip to Naivasha, Kenya, highlighted a lack of understanding from the communities about who owned wild animals. Possibly the distinction between ownership, management and access was uncertain. Delving into the current legislation in Kenya revealed an absence of complete codification around wild animal ownership, which, for conservation efforts to be more effective, may complicate the engagement of local communities. Engagement of local communities through the establishment of conservancies is a problematic area but is necessary to increase effective conservation efforts in line with the Wildlife Policy of 2020. In the future, development of a possible Wild Animal Act, the Kenyan government should consider delineating wild animal ownership and when the live being, carcass, parts thereof, and genetic material change from government ownership to other hands. Clear distinction should be made between user rights and what type of ‘ownership’ this grants to communities and when that changes.