Security key in unlocking Samburu

The move toward devolved governments has seen almost every county in Kenya go back to the drawing board and take stock of economic opportunities that lie within. Samburu County in the semi arid north of the country is no exception, writes Peter Muiruri

The county faces a herculean task in fulfilling the expectations of residents who have been marginalised for long. The harsh conditions have ensured that Samburu remains in the grip of famine with a number of aid agencies setting base in the county.

Several challenges, however, lie in the way to the county’s prosperity. Topmost among them is the rampant insecurity that has been a bane for far too long.

“There are far too many illegal guns in the county. Out of 600,000 illegal arms in the country, 10,000 are in Samburu alone. This is because young people have not had proper means of earning sustenance, yet there are resources that can be harnessed to keep them occupied,” said the local MP Simeon Lesirma in an interview.

According to him, insecurity will not be tackled if locals are not fully involved in the process.

“Wildlife is a major resource in the county and it will be vital for the young men in the area to be inducted as rangers since we have lived with wildlife here since time immemorial. Samburu has 25 per cent of the country’s forest cover. We are working with the Community Forest Associations (CFAs) to see how more young men can incorporated in community policing of such resources,” adds Lesirma.

Lasting security

The acting County Commissioner Samuel Muchiri, who says there can be no meaningful development without lasting security, has echoed his sentiments. He cites the example of the Rumuruti-Maralal section where highway robberies were the norm but says the situation has now been brought under control.

“Our main challenge has been the issue of mobility to the security personnel. However, we have been able to control the situation with what we already have,” says Muchiri.

He says the improved situation has seen a number of investors coming into the region mainly to set up hospitality businesses, especially in Maralal and Baragoi towns.  Muchiri says the county can no longer be ignored owing to the many natural resources that lie within.

In terms of energy, Lesirma says the county has the potential to harness wind power, urging companies interested in the venture to set base in the region.

“Apart from wind power, the area around Suguta Valley has coal deposits being only 60 kilometres from Ngamia 1 in Turkana where oil has been discovered. We are also told we have some iron ore deposits that can support a steel industry,” says Lesirma.

Famous spots

Granted, the county has some of the most famous tourist attractions in the country, namely Samburu National Reserve, Buffalo Springs and Shaba National Reserve. The Maralal Camel Derby is the latest addition to the area’s potential as a tourist destination.

However, residents who spoke to Home & Away feel these assets benefit everyone else but them. They point at the poor state of infrastructure to prove the point.

“All the three wildlife parks are served by a trunk road that connects Kenya with Ethiopia while the interior of Samburu County has nothing to show in the way of infrastructure. How much of the revenue is injected in local projects? That is why people here talk of being in the other Kenya,” says a shop owner in the town Maralal who only identified himself as James.

His assessment is by no means an exaggeration. The road that connects the main commercial centres of Wamba, Kisima and Maralal resembles a lunar landscape. When our team visited the county a few days ago, the reality of how bad roads hamper progress was witnessed as our vehicle suffered mechanical problems every now and then.

The poor state of the roads are threatening to hinder the opening up of the county’s interior by stakeholders in tourism industry who have had a concerted effort in promoting Samburu as a top notch tourism destination.

Speaking during the just concluded International Camel Derby in Maralal, the Kenya Tourist Board managing director urged the authorities to give priority to the improvement of infrastructure if only to tap in the unexplored tourism potential.

“This area can offer much in terms of sports and cultural tourism. We want more and more people to visit the area. To do that, however, the central and county governments need to improve the state of the roads that are currently in a bad state,” says Ndegwa.

Tourism is by no means the only sector that is being affected by the poor state of roads. One of the main economic mainstays of the locals is pastoralism.

Kisima and Maralal areas have lush pasture grounds with the potential to produce healthy animals for the meat and dairy industries. Lerogi plateau on the other hand, is conducive for wheat farming.

The county too, has the potential for subsistence farming if the locals are given the proper training in crop husbandly. This is one of the goals that Simon Toopia hopes to achieve as the coordinator of Hope for Samburu, a local organisation that works with local farmers.

Agricultural potential

“Many people think of Samburu as a desert but as you may have noticed, some parts are favourable to small scale farming. We have come up with demonstration plots where those interested in farming can take lessons in farming,” says Toopia.

Getting all that produce to the market is the big dilemma that will face the incoming county administrators.

Presidential aspirants visiting the area are hyping on the poor state of the roads to urge locals to vote for them with the promise of improving the same. On the day we visited the county, URP leader William Ruto was in town castigating the Government for neglecting the area as far as infrastructure is concerned.

“Why should we have superhighways in some parts of the country while the main road that traverses Samburu County resembles the one to heaven that is said to narrow and difficult to get into?” asked Ruto.

Ruto says the current formula in revenue allocation will see such formerly marginalised areas develop in the same pace with the rest of Kenyans.

“Whenever we watch TV or read the newspapers, the face of hunger has always been that of a pastoralist from Samburu, Pokot or Turkana. The devolved system will see Samburu set its own agenda in development,” he affirmed. Only time will tell whether Samburu overcomes the blight of insecurity and poor infrastructure.