Elgeyo Marakwet County to tap revenue from tourism

The local government will tap into the diverse and rich tourism potential to expand its revenue base.

Speaking during the signing of a partnership between the county government and the Standard Group in Nairobi, Governor Alex Tolgos said various measures had been put in place to realise this.

One of the measures, the governor said, was adding value to Rimoi Game Reserve.

Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos (left) shares a light moment with Standard Group Chief Executive Officer Sam Shollei at the media group's headquarters in Nairobi yesterday. (PHOTO: GEORGE NJUNGE/ STANDARD)

“We are expecting to get high revenue collection stream from the reserve through gate collection, lease and bed occupancy fees and other user charges,” Mr Tolgos said.

“We have even designated it as a flagship project for the county and done some development on it in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Society (KWS), including building and opening roads to the park, recruiting county wardens and rangers and a fence to prevent human-wildlife conflict.”

Standard Group Chief Executive Officer Sam Shollei said as Elgeyo Marakwet’s official media partner, the group will use its various platforms to create awareness of the county’s rich tourism potential.

“As a media house, we will partner with you in not only tourism but in all areas of development because we have seen what devolution has brought to the people unlike sometimes back when all things were done at the central government level,” Mr Shollei said.

The reserve will be officially launched on March 11 with a two-day grand opening function.

KWS plans to restock the reserve with giraffes, buffalos, waterbucks, zebras, impalas and antelopes among other wild animals.

 “We as Standard Group we have seen what the governors are doing to transform the people’s lives and if you go around the country you can see for yourself. We will therefore work together to ensure residents get (the) right information about what the county is doing for its people,” Shollei said.

Captivating beauty

Already, Mombasa’s Sun & Sand Hotel has expressed interest to establish an Eco-lodge in the reserve.

“We also want to take advantage of the county’s captivating beauty and ecological zones in terms of highlands, escarpments and valleys to engage in paragliding and safari rally and take sport tourism to another level,” Tolgos added.

The county is also tapping into sports tourism.

“We are also refurbishing the world-famous Kamariny’s Stadium into a 1,500-seater pavilion and building changing rooms. The stadium will also have an indoor facility that can host indoor games, a modern gym and swimming pool if we get enough funding,” said Tolgos.

In October last year, The World Bank ranked Elgeyo Marakwet as the second fastest growing county in Kenya after Siaya.