The irony of a county swimming in resources, wallowing in poverty

BY KIPCHUMBA KEMEI

Narok,Kenya:Narok County Governor, Samwel Kuntai  has  his job well cut out as he takes over the management of a county that has not translated its vast resources into wealth.

The county which borders Tanzania to the South and Nakuru, Kajiado, Kuria, Kisii and Bomet counties to the North is home to the world-famed Masai Mara Game Reserve where the defunct Narok and Transmara County Council used to collect Sh7 billion annually in tourism revenue.

The county is also the leading producer of wheat and barley in the country. In the last three years, farmers have earned Sh1.2 billion from the sale of this produce.

It is also the biggest supplier of meat to Nairobi and Nakuru markets and also produces potatoes and maize.

Health facilities

Despite the numerous resources, poverty level is high with life expectancy standing at 50 years. Residents succumb to treatable diseases because the few and ill equipped health facilities are few and far apart.

Areas bordering the Mara, according to statistics from the Medical Services Ministry, have high rate of Hiv/Aids infections blamed on the thriving tourism industry.

Narok and Kilgoris, the principal towns and other trading centres are poorly planned with all of them being prone to floods and outbreak of waterborne diseases, a matter that has continued to stifle investments.

Mr Kuntai has to decide how to use the resources at his disposal to turn around the lives of residents who in some areas can hardly afford three meals a day or send their children to school.

The county  also has huge gold deposits at Kilima pesa area in Lolgorian. Years of mining by a private company has not changed the lives of Lolgorian and surrounding areas.

The area has vast deposits of Mica in Narosura area which has not been mined. During the electioneering period, Kuntai promised to tap it as a measure to harness resources that will be used to improve the living standards of the residents.

Border trade

Being a border county, there is robust cross-border trade with Tanzania at Olpusimoru area and if the new leadership puts a police post and taps trade, the revenue that will be generated will boost efforts to fight poverty and create employment.

But there is concern among the residents that if corruption, which has been going on during the life of the defunct council is not eradicated, people’s lives will not change.

“If corruption which has been the biggest impediment to progress is not eradicated, there is the danger that there will be a false start. The manner in which leaders have handled issues affecting the residents should change,” says Jackson Saika, the chairman of Maasai Professionals Association.

Saika says the new leadership should create employment to thousands of youths, who leave schools and other higher learning institutions annually.

The income per capita has over the years been eroded due to corruption and inept leadership.

Analysts also warn that clanism has retarded development in Narok and other nearby counties. Leaders from populous clans ensure their people benefit in terms of development and employment.