The County Government of Isiolo, through its Department of Tourism and Wildlife Management, is making significant strides in advancing the finalization of three key legislative bills: the Isiolo County Tourism Bill, the Isiolo County Community Conservancies Bill, and the Isiolo County Wildlife Management and Conservation Bill 2023.
These bills, when passed, are expected to strengthen conservation efforts, streamline wildlife management, and ensure greater economic benefits for local communities.
In an effort to expedite the process, the department has engaged a wide range of stakeholders, including members of the public, the Isiolo County Assembly, and development partners, during public participation and validation sessions.
These consultations aim to ensure the legislative process adheres to proper procedures, ensuring inclusivity and transparency.
Today, the Department of Tourism and Wildlife Management organized a technical workshop to harmonize and institutionalize the structure of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill 2023.
The discussions focused on key components of the bill, including the formation of the Isiolo County Wildlife Service and the proposed Board of Trustees.
The County Executive Committee Member (CECm) for Tourism and Wildlife Management, Dr. Lawrence Mwongela, who led the workshop, emphasized the importance of creating the County Wildlife Service to enhance service delivery.
However, it was noted that the Board of Trustees might not be necessary, as the County Public Service Board would be responsible for implementing its mandates.
“We believe that forming the County Wildlife Service will greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our department. However, we have decided to do away with the Board of Trustees, as its roles would overlap with those of the County Public Service Board,” Dr. Mwongela said during the workshop, which was supported by the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) and Mid-P.
Dr. Mwongela reaffirmed his commitment to pushing the bills forward, stating, “My department is committed to ensuring that these three bills become laws. This will not only benefit the growth of the department but also ensure that residents continue to reap economic benefits from the sector.”
The workshop was attended by County Assembly members, led by Deputy Speaker Hon. David Lemantile and the Chair of the Tourism and Wildlife Management Committee, Hon. Meja Abdullahi. Both members lauded the department for its dedication to addressing public concerns and streamlining the legislative process.
Hon. Lemantile commented, “It’s clear that the department has taken into account the views from the public participation and validation processes, which is why the process has taken time. However, we need to speed things up and finalize the process.”
He further assured that the County Assembly is ready to support the bills once they are tabled. “Once these bills are before the house, we will support their passage into law, as they will benefit both the county government and the community,” Hon. Lemantile added.
Key department officials, including Chief Officer Ibrahim Challa and Directors Mohamud Madera and Jane Nairoti, emphasized the significance of the bills during the deliberations.
Also present at the workshop were Hon. David Waithaka, Chief Officers Lucy Kagwiria Kaburu (Trade and Investment), Abdiaziz Mohamed Jama (SMEs, Cooperative & Enterprise Development), and Judith Karendi Nyagah (Public Participation, Citizen Engagement & Customer Service).
The workshop represents a critical step towards finalizing these crucial bills, which aim to foster sustainable wildlife conservation and boost economic growth in Isiolo County.
