Samburu conservancies add to the natural allure

Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal hands over ambulance keys to his deputy, Joseph Lemarkat, during the launch of an initiative aimed at improving healthcare services in the county in September last year. [PHOTO: MICHAEL SAITOTI/STANDARD]

Samburu, Kenya: The expansive semi-arid landscape ranging from fascinating plains to forests at high altitudes not only exhibits natural beauty of Samburu County, but also a land of great bio-diversity and culture.

It is a region predominantly inhabited by the semi-pastoral Samburu community whose vibrant cultural heritage has stood the test of time in spite of economic pressures or even being overrun by external forces.

The community is hailed by tourists and cultural enthusiasts as Kenya's butterfly tribe due to their glamorous regalia that is unmatched worldwide.

But having been marginalised right from pre-independence days, Samburu's independence may have come with the devolution.

Huge development strides and significant progress have been witnessed in the pastoral county in the past two years.

Solving the socio-economic challenges that had proved a complex matrix to the national government is in the offing.

Governor Moses Lenolkulal attributes this to devolution. His administration has made significant strides in reversing the negative indicators of the socio-economic status pitting the people since the colonial era.

The youthful governor says devolution liberated residents from the hard-grasping fingers of marginalisation and stagnation since the country gained independence.

"We have employed drastic measures to solve complex problems of insecurity, repugnant cultures, poverty and illiteracy," notes Mr Lenolkulal.

Covering more than 21,000 square kilometres and with no trace of tarmac in the whole county, Samburu is a land endowed with great potential and Lenolkulal terms it 'the bed-rock of a resource base' and is perhaps a major income earner for the country.

"This county has an enviable physical environment, sceneries and an abundance of wildlife capable of making Samburu stand out as the best tourist destination in the country and beyond," says Lenolkulal.

POSITIVE IMPACT

The county government spent Sh80 million on Land Cruisers and employment of more than 100 conservancy rangers to conserve wildlife and other natural resources.

A funds drive dubbed "Conservation for peace and prosperity" also aimed at promoting harmony among rival communities, and Lenolkulal believes the environment is of great importance if sustainable development is to be achieved.

"It behoves all of us to entrench conservation tendencies in our daily lives in order to prosper," he says while outlining some of the integrated strategic development plans he used in this course.

"We have already secured investors for the Maralal Sanctuary and an additional one in the Samburu National Reserve and we continue to secure investors for the conservancies to establish an independent tourist circuit in Northern Kenya," says the governor.

This has witnessed a glaring positive impact as five newly-established conservancies are now fully operational and security personnel are not only manning the wildlife but have also enhanced security.

County Executive for Tourism and Trade Peter Leshakwel says the initiative to set up the conservancies in Samburu North will permanently end the historical rivalry between Samburu and Turkana.

"The communities have embraced the initiative," he says.