TRANSFORMATION OF LION-MAASAI CONFLICT THROUGH COMMUNITY BASED CONCILIATION INITIATIVES

Abstract

Wildlife is a pillar to Kenya’s tourism sector with Lions crowning it as one of the favorite wild animals. Around many of their habitats in Kenya is the Maasai community. The Maasai community has lived in close proximity with the Lions providing an incentive for conflicts between Lions and the Maasai. This paper appreciates how the community based conciliation initiatives have been instrumental in finding amicable solutions to the conflict which include the community led conservancies established under the wildlife Act that play an important role in preserving biodiversity and contributing to the socioeconomic growth of communities to which they belong. Maasai Olympics, Lion guardians and the Lion Lights programs have also been instrumental in Lion conservation. However, this paper notes that community-based conciliation initiatives are not recognised under the Wildlife Act thus putting at risk its benefits. It proposes a framework that recognises these initiatives for sustainable lion-maasai conflict management. This paper relies on doctrinal legal research through analysis of legislations and journal articles.