Naibunga Lower Conservancy Advances Governance Through SAGE Implementation

The Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA), in collaboration with the Laikipia Conservancies Association (LCA), conducted a two-day SAGE implementation engagement at Naibunga Lower Conservancy in January 2026. This activity forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen equitable governance, transparency, and inclusive decision-making within community conservancies.

The engagement built on previous SAGE assessments, aiming to move the conservancy from evaluation to practical implementation of governance tools that foster accountability, fairness, and community trust. Naibunga Lower Conservancy is composed of three constituent communities, each with diverse interests and resource needs, making effective governance critical for ensuring conservation benefits are shared equitably and conflicts minimized.

Focus Areas of the Engagement

The engagement focused on key governance components that directly affect community members, including grievance management, resource access, and benefit sharing mechanisms. Participants included conservancy board members, management staff, and representatives from the Community Land Management Committees. The participatory approach ensured that discussions were grounded in local realities and reflected both leadership and community perspectives.

On the first day, participants reviewed and validated previous SAGE recommendations on grievance management, before collaboratively designing a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) tailored to the conservancy context. Emphasis was placed on ensuring that the GRM is accessible, transparent, and fair, with clearly defined roles for the board, management, and community representatives. The session highlighted how a functional GRM strengthens trust, proactively manages conflict, and supports conservation objectives.

The second day centered on resource access and benefit sharing, two areas essential for equity and community acceptance of conservation initiatives. Participants conducted a participatory mapping exercise, identifying grazing areas, water points, conservation zones, and other critical resources. This visual mapping facilitated discussions on how resources are accessed, managed, and shared, while also identifying gaps or areas of potential conflict. Discussions on the conservancy constitution and legal frameworks further enhanced participants’ understanding of formal governance structures and principles of equity, transparency, and inclusiveness.

Key Outcomes

The engagement strengthened understanding of governance processes within Naibunga Lower Conservancy. Community members gained clarity on resource access and benefit sharing arrangements, while the participatory process reinforced trust and collaboration between conservancy leadership and communities.

The Naibunga Lower SAGE implementation engagement demonstrated how technical guidance, combined with a participatory and context-sensitive approach, can strengthen governance within community conservancies. The outcomes are expected to support improved grievance management, clearer resource governance, and more equitable benefit sharing. Continued follow-up will be essential to ensure that these governance mechanisms are fully operational and sustainable over time.