Bisil, Kajiado County, October 6, 2023 A new regional organization was launched today to support the growing movement of wildlife conservancies in Central Kajiado Rangelands. The organization, RAMAT Wildlife Society, was endorsed by conservancy leaders to become the umbrella body that represents the conservancies at the national level. It is an advocacy vehicle for a region that has had minimal conservation investment, while communities continue suffer from Human Wildlife Conflict. The bulk of the member conservancies are found in the Matapato North and South, a vast area at the periphery of the Amboseli Ecosystem and West of the Namanga-Nairobi Highway. There are currently 10 conservancies in the region with total space of 176,544 acres (71,444 hectares). The largest conservancy is 40,000 acres (Lorbetera) while the smallest is 8,900 acres (Olchorro Oiborr). The conservancies are a dispersal zone for wildlife from Amboseli Ecosystem and a major wildlife migratory routes from Tanzania. A mapping exercise for these conservancies was recently carried out by Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association so that the conservancies can be included in the national map as well as delineate boundaries for land owners who own the conservancy. “It is a new dawn for communities in Central Kajiado. We have been the hotspot of conflict with wildlife for too long, yet very little is being done to alleviate our pain. It is now time we find solutions from within,” said Simon Sosoika, the Board Chairperson. The members conservancies include Kikesen River Conservancy, Parsilet Conservancy, Kisapuk Conservancy and Oldoinyo Sambu Conservancy along the Tanzania border. Other conservancies towards Amboseli Ecosystem are Noosikitok Conservancy, Lorbetera Conservancy, Osewan Conservancy, Oltepesei and Olchorro Oiborr. “We are responding to President Ruto and Governor Lenku’s call that the conservation space be expanded beyond Amboseli,” said Isaac Ole Pasua, Chairperson, Noosikitok Conservancy. RAMAT Wildlife Society is a registered under Section 10 of the Societies Act. The name RAMAT, emanates from the Maasai word “aRAMAT”, which means holistic management of animals, families, environment and the community in general.