Accompanied by the Chairman of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) Mr. Peter Kinyua, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy CEO Mike Watson and County Minister for Tourism Maingi Mugambi, Meru Deputy Governor Hon. Titus Ntuchiu yersterday received the technical report prepared by experts and scientists from KWS and KFS on establishment of Meru Mt. Kenya Mountain Bongo and Rhino Sanctuary, on behalf of the Governor, H.E. Kiraitu Murungi.

The two species were historically found in Mt. Kenya but have since become extinct and endangered which has drastically affected tourism in Meru by reducing flow of tourists in the County. Governor Kiraitu’s administration aims to remedy this by establishing the sanctuary and reintroducing them to their original natural habitat.

“As a government we are very thankful to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, KWS, KFS and all other partners who have joined us towards achievement of this objective which will greatly help to boost tourism and improve the economy of our County,” said the Deputy Governor.

Hon. Ntuchiu noted that when they took over leadership, they intended to identify unexploited high economic potential areas and resources of the County which can optimally be utilized to achieve the vision of Making Meru Great.

“One such dormant high potential resource is the tourism capacity of Mt. Kenya, Meru National Park and other areas including private entities such as the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy,” he added.

Last year the County organized the inaugural Mt. Kenya Run held at Kenya School of Adventure and Leadership (KESAL), Ntirimiti in Buuri Sub County, which was a great success nationally and earned a slot in the Athletics Kenya (AK) annual calendar of events. This was in addition to Governor Kiraitu’s efforts to further open Mt. Kenya where his administration spent over Sh20 million to open a 22km road to Lake Ellis tourism facility at 13,000ft a.s.l. through Themwe in South Imenti.

One of the objectives of the Meru Mt. Kenya Run event was to promote conservation by establishment of the Mountain Bongo and Rhino Sanctuary whose report was received today.

The Deputy Governor also said the County Government is laying down plans to expand occupancy and accommodation by putting up a 5-Star Hotel and other facilities at Meru National Park which until now has not yet been exploited due to low bed capacity, despite that the park is same size and has same tourism products as Masai Mara which is among the best and most profitable tourist facilities in the country.
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The Governor of Meru County H.E. Kiraitu Murungi has this afternoon met and received a brief from a team of Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS) and County officials on the ongoing preparations for establishment of a mountain Bongo sanctuary in Mt. Kenya which he had pledged as one of the ways aimed at promoting mountain tourism as a major contributor to the County’s economic development.

This drive to establish the sanctuary comes after funds were successfully raised for its development through the inaugural Mount Kenya Run held earlier this year at the Kenya School of Adventure and Leadership(KESAL) which was spearheaded by Governor Kiraitu with enormous success, having been the first ever such event in the continent of Africa that also intended to collate resources for setting up of the first cancer institute in the County owing to the high prevalence of the disease that is causing many sufferings and heavy economic costs to the people of Meru.

The KWS team is working closely with County Government officials to map out the area where the sanctuary will be established, and is also expected to carry out ecological and feasibility studies to determine viability of breeding the mountain bongo species which was phased out due to variety of conditions many years ago, and whose return to Meru is expected to draw many tourists to the County, hence contributing to achievement of the Governor’s Vision of Making Meru Great.

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Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary
Hon. Najib Balala yesterday led a team from the ministry and Environment Committee Chairman Hon. Kareke Mbiuki to our County in a bid to promote tourism.

The Cabinet Secretary has allocated Ksh 95 million towards the construction of the road to Meru National Park to make it accessible and attract more local international tourists.

This will also boost the efforts of my Government to revamp the tourism sector and make our County the preferred tourist destination in the region and the country at large.

Hon. Balala said that those farmers whose crops were damaged by wildlife will receive their compensation. Human-wildlife conflict has been an issue and they are sure that those affected will be glad to receive the compensation.

We hope to have a lasting solution between the Kenya Wildlife Service and the local community in matters mitigating the conflict.

The CS also agreed to partner with my administration to set up a recreational site and a gate at Lake Ellis where we have already done a 22 km motorable road from Themwe.
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