Tensions flare as Kwale leaders demand removal of KWS from Diani-Chale Marine Reserve management
Tensions flared in Ukunda after a public forum organised by KWS to discuss proposed changes to park entry fees was abruptly cut short following strong opposition from residents and local officials.
Leaders in Kwale County are calling for the removal of the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) from managing the Diani Chale Marine Reserve, arguing that the agency has failed to consult local communities and disregarded their interests.
Tensions flared in Ukunda after a public forum organised by KWS to discuss proposed changes to park entry fees was abruptly cut short following strong opposition from residents and local officials.
More To Read
- Garissa leaders warn poaching, foreign travel advisories threaten tourism
- Activists protest exclusion of Lake Nakuru from free entry, link reversal to Odhiambo's disappearance
- KWS excludes Lake Nakuru from free park entry on September 27
- Sandalwood consignment worth Sh7.8 million destroyed in Maralal
- Snake farming could unlock economic and health benefits, experts say
- World Animal Protection urges Kenya to ban cruel commercial wildlife farming
Msambweni MP Feisal Bader, who led the protest, dismissed the reserve’s legal status and vowed to launch a formal petition in Parliament to remove the marine area from the 1995 Kenya Gazette notice.
Msambweni MP Feisal Bader. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)
“I humbly ask all of you, as the people of Msambweni, our view is that we are officially beginning the process of degazettement of Diani Chale. These people are trying to play games with us, and we are telling them not to touch our ocean,” said Feisal
The legislator insisted that the reserve’s gazettment was done without adequate consultation and undermines local livelihoods that depend on direct access to the ocean.
Ward Representative for Kinondo, Juma Maone, rejected the consultation process, saying, “They say they are collecting public views on the current charges, but the truth is, as residents, we do not want the reserve at all.”
His sentiments were echoed by Musa Faume, County Representative for Bongwe/Gombato, who stated that the Kwale County Government has long opposed KWS’s management of the area.
Kwale residents and leaders during the public forum organised by KWS. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)
Despite the backlash, KWS Coastal Regional Deputy Director Elema Hapicha tried to reassure the community that the land remains public and their voices would influence decisions.
“The reserve is public land, and public land belongs to the people. You are the ones with the power. You are the ones to tell us how these reserves should be managed, and that is why we are here,” said Hapicha
The Diani Chale Marine Reserve, gazetted in 1995, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over community rights and state-led conservation in the coastal region. Local leaders argue that any conservation efforts must begin with respect for the people who depend on the ocean for their survival.
Top Stories Today
