LCA & County Government of Laikipia Agrees on Fair land rates

The Laikipia Conservancies Association (LCA) and the County Government of Laikipia (CGL) have made significant progress in fostering collaboration and ensuring fair, transparent taxation for conservancies. Two high-level consultative meetings held on 16th and 22nd September 2025 at the County Hall, Nanyuki, brought together senior leaders to align the Finance Bill 2025/26 with court rulings and establish equitable frameworks for conservation land management.

The sessions were co-chaired by Governor Joshua Irungu, Deputy Governor Reuben Kamuri, and LCA representative, alongside representatives from the County Assembly, Revenue Board, and LCA Executive Committee. These engagements followed a directive from the Governor during LCA’s Annual General Meeting at Mpala Research Centre, emphasizing collaboration over litigation to achieve sustainable, mutually beneficial outcomes.

Key Outcomes

• Land Rate Agreement: Adoption of a KSh 40/- per acre rate for conservancies, fixed for the current administration to promote stability and predictability.

• Finance Bill Alignment: Removal of unlawful levies including commercial filming, research permits, and airstrip fees in compliance with the recent court ruling.

• Community Land Clarification: County Revenue Board to refine taxation policies for community-owned lands in consultation with LCA.

• Tourism Levy Framework: Proposal for an equitable revenue-sharing model to support conservation reinvestment and local development.

• Legislative Progress: Formation of a technical drafting committee to finalize the Laikipia County Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill 2025  with drafting sessions already scheduled for 18th–20th November 2025. The process is being led by a multi-stakeholder team comprising representatives from the Wyss Academy for Nature, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and LCA, marking tangible progress toward a comprehensive and inclusive legal framework for conservation.

Partnership and Collaboration

Both LCA and the County Government reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue, transparency, and joint problem-solving demonstrating how partnerships can replace prolonged legal battles with shared solutions that benefit both people and nature.

“When policy, partnership, and purpose align conservation becomes not just about wildlife, but about livelihoods, equity, and shared prosperity.”— Peter Lemerian Matunge, CEO, LCA

This milestone highlights Laikipia’s growing reputation as a model for collaborative conservation governance, advancing policy coherence, fair taxation, and the recognition of conservancies as vital contributors to the county’s ecological and economic resilience.