President Mwai Kibaki said his decision to change the status of Amboseli National Park from a "park" to a "reserve" and turn its administration over to the local county council and the Maasai tribal community was "final" and dismissed opponents of the move as "naive."

"We cannot deny the Maasai community this natural resource to please a few individuals," he said in remarks at a drought-stricken Maasai village south of Nairobi where he commissioned a new well, according to a statement from his office.

Kibaki's September 29 presidential decree gives control of Amboseli's substantial gate receipts -- some 3.5 million dollars (2.9 million euros) last year -- and the reserve's management to county officials and the Maasai.

Wildlife conservationists have filed suit to stop the move, saying it will endanger protected animals, including Amboseli's well-known elephants, the pristine nature of the sanctuary and could lead to a drop in tourism revenue.

In the lawsuit they claim Kibaki acted unconstitutionally by signing away the park without proper consultation while political foes of the president accused him of trying to win Maasai support for a failed November referendum on a new constitution.

Kibaki did not say what he would do if the court ruled against his decision, but accused opponents of trying to "make political capital out of falsehoods" by spreading lies about the downgrade, which he said would not affect Amboseli, its management or the wildlife that live there.

He said the change "should not lead to its destruction" and noted that the government would work with the cash-strapped Ol Kejuado county council on best management practices for Amboseli.

Kibaki's decree turned over the 3,260-square kilometer (1,260-square mile) park on the Kenyan-Tanzanian border at the foot of Africa's highest peak to the council which had long complained it was being denied the benefits from the natural resource.

Created as a game reserve in 1906, Amboseli -- home to wildlife that roam the plains against the stunning backdrop of the snow-capped Kilimanjaro -- was once before turned over to local administration in 1948.

But that decision was rescinded in 1974 after years of mismanagement and corruption nearly destroyed the ecosystem when it was declared a national park and put under the authority of the KWS.

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