KWS opens Ura gate to Meru National Park

THARAKA NITHI, KENYA: Tharaka Nithi residents have a reason to smile after Kenya Wildlife Service agreed to have gate to the Meru National Park open in September.

Ura Gate has been a contention between Meru and Tharaka people after it was closed years ago blocking tourists from using Tharaka route to the park.

Speaking at Ura Primary School in Tharaka, Deputy Director KWS Robert Njeru said they had conducted the necessary procedures to have the gate open.

He said that it was important for residents to benefit from the park’s resources.

Mr Njeru said they were ready to work with the county government to boost tourism.

He called on investors to invest in the park saying it was one of the beautiful parks Kenya has.

“I have traveled to many parks in the country but none is like Meru National Park. Four years ago we transferred over two hundred animals to this place.”

He said the park had great potential to grow but asked the county government to work together with other stakeholders to put the park in the national and international map as a tourism destination.

Governor Samuel Ragwa who was the guest at the function said opening of the other gate would open up the county to revenue from tourism.