New hope for Isiolo: Revamped tourism and Resort City

Members of the Halca Cultural Troupe perform a Borana song at Ola Gothaa Cultural Manyatta in Archers Post, Isiolo County. [PHOTO: SAMMY MOSE/STANDARD]

ISIOLO COUNTY: Draping in traditional shawls around their shoulders, a troupe of young dancers gyrate to the drumbeats to welcome a group of tourists to the Buffalo Spring National Reserve in Isiolo County.

Just at the entrance of the wildlife sanctuary, famed for rare species of wild animals, a troop of monkeys yelps frenetically moving their tails.

The tourists aboard an open Land Cruiser are excited by the warm reception as they embark on a game drive in the sweltering sun.

During a recent visit to the county, The Standard discovered that tourists are slowly trickling back to the game reserves in Isiolo County, a place synonymous with insecurity just a few years ago.

Despite being endowed with natural beauty, the county had lagged behind in tourism owing to constant feuding among communities that often resulted in clashes.

WANTON DESTRUCTION

In the past, Isiolo has been associated with highway banditry and cattle rustling, which led to loss of lives and wanton destruction of property.

For decades, the county, regarded as the doorway to the arid Northern Kenya, has remained underdeveloped but with the advent of devolution, the tourism sector is picking up. Investors are gearing up for the establishment of the Resort City.

The proposed Resort City under the Vision 2030 economic blueprint has seen investment in tourism and other sectors go into overdrive.

People unfamiliar with the county may think the semi-arid region has nothing to offer in terms of recreational facilities.

The county sandwiched between Samburu, Marsabit, Laikipia and Meru is home to Buffalo Spring Game Reserve as well as Shaba Game Reserve and Samburu Game Reserve.

RARE SPECIES

The three wildlife sanctuaries that are kilometres apart, are the habitats of the rare Beisa Oryx, Grevy’s Zebra, the Gerenuk, the Somali ostrich and the reticulated giraffe.

Unknown to many, the wildlife reserves have big hotels for tourists to savour and trained tourist guards.

Asnil Samburu Camp and Sarova Shaba like other hospitality facilities are up to the scratch in provision of world-class services.

During our visit we caught up with Jeffrey James, a tourist, who said he was enjoying his holiday in Kenya despite the travel advisories.

“We are cautious about the security situation but I can say with no shadow of doubt that the facilities here are marvellous. The situation (security) is not as bad as it is being depicted,” said James.

To sell Isiolo as a destination of choice for both domestic and international tourists, the county government has embarked on a programme to exploit the tourism potential to boost collection of revenue in the region.

Already, the county has murramed all the roads in the national reserves, which hindered movement inside the facilities.

According to the Chief Warden of Buffalo and Shaba National Reserves Mr Abdi Boru, the county has repaired the dilapidated Samburu airstrip at a cost of Sh30 million.

“Since we repaired it, we have been making between Sh20 million and Sh30 million a year in landing fees and entrance,” said Boru.