By Kipchumaba Kemei
Most tourist establishments in Masai Mara Game Reserve have sent their workers on compulsory leave.
Hoteliers say it is expensive to maintain the staff when business has stagnated for more than five months.
“We decided to temporarily lay off non core workers because of low business volume. However, they will be back when it picks up,” said a manager of a prestigious lodge in the park who declined to be named.
He blamed the situation on frequent threats by terrorists who attack places foreigners visit, warning that if security was not improved before the forthcoming peak season, only a few tourists will visit the reserve.
The peak season kicks off in mid July when hundreds of wildebeests cross Mara River from Serengeti plains in Tanzania. About 900,000 foreign tourists visit Mara annually.
terror threats
“The situation has lately been made worse by a series of grenade attacks on civilians,” he added, saying this year’s the peak season might be one of the worst compared to 1997 when tribal clashes rocked Rift Valley and Coast provinces, the hub of tourism activities in the country, forcing visitors to stay away.
Stakeholders also blame the series of violent protests by the local community in the reserve since October.
The locals have been opposed to a decision by Narok County Council to award Equity Bank a 10-year contract to collect park entry fees.
“The protests rubbed salt in the wound. During that period tourists who had booked their stay cancelled them citing security concerns,” added Moses Kipeno, a proprietor of a tented camp within the Olare-Orok Conservancy west of Mara.
The Chairman of the Masai Mara Curio Dealers Association, Sam Munga, said members have experienced low arrivals, adding some outlets have even closed.
“It has been a bad period. The situation has forced most of our members to close,” he said and added that they will not be able to re-open when the peak season begins because of financial difficulties.
“Even when the numbers pick they may not restart because financial institutions they borrowed loans from want their money back before they help them out,” added Munga.
