Report paints grim picture of Maasai Mara

By Philip Mwakio

A report on the inventory of tourist facilities in the greater Mara Ecosystem by an inter-ministerial task force of 2009 paint a grim picture of the world-renowned tourism circuit.

The report notes that distribution of tourist facilities in the region was uneven in some areas while informal settlements have mushroomed near the gates of the reserve.

The close proximity of tourist facilities and increased fencing has interfered with wildlife corridors leading to increased cases of human-wildlife conflict, the report adds.

At the sametime, the level of compliance to various regulations within the Mara was found to be low.

It was surprising that only a few facilities have licenses for Enviromental Impact Assessment, water quality and waste management.

To a large extent, relevant regulations on taxation and licenses required to run tourism related businesses have not been complied with.

Encroachments

The report, a copy of which was obtained by The Standard on Sunday states that the uncontrolled growth of accommodation facilities that have strained both water and wood fuel.

It, further, states that the development of tourist accommodation facilities is unplanned, haphazard and uncontrolled.

"This development is not guided by any existing development and management plan or even guidelines on type of facilities and bed capacities accepted in the various areas of the ecosystem. As a result the facilities are neither in harmony with the environment nor with each other," the report adds.

Tourist facilities

The objectives of the task force report which to-date have not been acted upon, were to take stock of tourist facilities in the Greater Mara ecosystem.

Further, they were meant to assess compliance to environmental legislation on water quality, waste management, environmental impact Assessment and Environmental Audit regulations.

It also aimed at determining compliance to sectoral laws and regulations such as the Local Government Act, Widlife Conservation and Management Act, the Forest Act, Tourism regulations, Kenya Revenue Authority and regulations and laws that govern regional authorities.

Over 108 tourism facilities within the Mara area were documented, with a bed capacity of 3,960. Access to two camps was denied by the management during the exercise.

These facilities have been categorised as lodges, eco-lodges, tented camps, hotels and bandas.

Public and special campsites were not included in the survey, according to the report since they do not have physical structures.