MP and activists clash over park management

Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo. [Robert Kiplagat, Standard]

An MP has told off land activists opposed to the proposed Masai Mara management plan drafted by the county government.

Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo yesterday said the plan was in good faith contrary to what activists were saying.

“We have seen some people (activists) spreading propaganda to the effect that the management plan is a ploy by the county government to privatise the park,” said the MP.

The MP’s reaction came barely days after Maasai land rights led by Meitamei Olol Dapash held a meeting at Talek area to oppose the management plan on claims that public participation was not done.

The proposed Bill — that is yet to be tabled before the Narok county assembly — is set to make the park autonomous as it will be referred to as “Masai Mara Authority”; a move the activists view as privatisation.

“We smell a rat in the planned management, any conservation change should directly involve the community,” said Olol Dapash.

“The park is owned by the people of Narok and the county is the custodian, we do not want a situation where the community will be edged out as the park is converted to a private entity.”

The world reknown park, which generates over Sh3 billion annually, is in Tongoyo’s Narok West constituency.