The Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023
Status Timeline
Proposed
Active now
Public Review
Pending
Debate
Pending
Executive
Pending
Final
Pending
Strict 12-Month Compensation Deadline
Amends sections 21A and 25 of the principal Act to mandate that compensation for human death, human injury, or crop and property damage caused by wildlife must be paid within twelve months of a determination or recommendation by the respective Community Wildlife Conservation Committee.
Five Percent Benefit Sharing for Communities
Replaces section 76(4) to ensure that conservation benefit-sharing guidelines comply with a statutory minimum. At least five percent of the gross total revenue and fees collected from national parks and reserves must be allocated to neighbouring or negatively affected local communities.
Expanded Species List for Injury and Death Compensation
Amends Part A of the Third Schedule to expand the list of wildlife species for which compensation is payable in respect of death and injury. The newly added species are:
- Poisonous snakes and dangerous snakes
- Sharks, stone fish, and sting rays
- Whales
- Wild pigs
Mandatory Funding for Conservation Committees
Inserts a new section 21A(1) requiring the Cabinet Secretary to provide adequate funds in each financial year to manage the affairs of each Community Wildlife Conservation Committee.
Bill No.
Senate Bills No. 46
Gazette No.
Supplement No. 183
Sponsor
Johnes Mwaruma
Background
The Wildlife Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023 proposes key amendments to the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (No. 47 of 2013). The Bill seeks to address long-standing delays in wildlife compensation payments and ensure County Wildlife Conservation and Compensation Committees have the necessary facilities and funding to operate. It also creates statutory benefit-sharing structures to support communities living adjacent to national parks and protected areas.
Key Amendments
- Compensation Deadlines: Amends sections 21A and 25 of the Act to introduce a twelve-month deadline for payment of compensation following a determination or recommendation, provided no appeal has been lodged.
- Trust Fund Representation: Amends section 23(2)(e) to include one member nominated by the Council of County Governors on the governing body of the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund.
- Funding of the Compensation Scheme: Amends section 24(1)(a) to define the sources of the Wildlife Compensation Scheme to include monies allocated annually for this purpose by the National Assembly.
- Third Schedule Expansion: Amends Part A of the Third Schedule to insert poisonous snakes, dangerous snakes, sharks, stone fish, whales, sting rays, and wild pigs immediately after the word "buffalo".
New Obligations
- CS Funding Obligation: The Cabinet Secretary is obligated to allocate adequate funds in every financial year for the management of all Community Wildlife Conservation Committees.
- Benefit-Sharing Compliance: The Cabinet Secretary must ensure that benefit-sharing guidelines allocate at least five percent of the gross total revenue and fees collected from national parks and reserves to neighbouring or negatively affected local communities.
- Trust Fund Mandate: Under section 23(4), the Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund is now obligated to provide support to local communities negatively affected by wildlife conservation and management activities.
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