*GOVERNOR KIRAITU LAUNCHES THE HISTORICAL MERU MOUNTAIN BONGO AND BLACK RHINO SANCTUARY ON MT. KENYA AIMED AT BOOSTING TOURISM*

Governor Kiraitu Murungi promised to promote tourism by opening up high potential tourist attractions in Meru to develop a world class tourism in the County as a key contributor to the vision of Making Meru Great. Pursuant to this promise the County Government has today in a function presided over by Deputy Governor Hon. Titus Ntuchiu on behalf of the Governor, officially launched the historical Meru Mountain Bongo and Black Rhino Sanctuary which will be established at Mucheene Forest in Mt. Kenya.

Hon. Ntuchiu noted that there are only between 20-25 Mountain Bongo in Kenya which are already endangered with their population dwindling rapidly. The County Government aims to bring and reintroduce about 20 more from the USA State of Florida where they were taken many years ago before they disappeared from Mt. Kenya, by a well-wisher who has been working closely with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to breed them. The sanctuary will act as a key factor to increase number of tourists visiting Meru County, he added.

“Under the leadership of Governor Kiraitu, we are working on various other approaches to grow tourism in the County. We have opened up motorable roads to access the beautiful lakes like Lake Ellis(14,000 ft. a.s.l.) and Lake Rutundu, as well as various other beautiful sites on Mt. Kenya. Last year we held a successful first ever mountain run(Meru Mt. Kenya Run 2020) at the Kenya School of Adventure and Leadership (KESAL) Ntirimiti, where part of the proceeds went into funding the establishment of the sanctuary as well as opening of Meru Cancer Center,” said the Deputy Governor.

He added that Governor Kiraitu’s administration is also developing conference facilities, picnic and camping sites and other amenities to boost tourism in Meru National Park and Iombe Lake in Nyambene region as well as Lake Nkunga Recreational site.

The event was attended by partners in the project who include conservationists (Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Mt. Kenya Trust and the Community) and National Government agencies (Kenya Wildlife Service-KWS- and Kenya Forest Service-KFS).
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