KWS forks out Sh200m to save parks

By VINCENT MABATUK

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has set a side Sh200 million for emergency services in all national parks during this rainy season. ?

Speaking in Nakuru County, KWS director William Kiprono said ongoing rains had flooded some roads to the parks and perimeter fences swept away by the raging waters. He revealed that KWS has since availed two helicopters for emergency cases. ?In Lake Nakuru National Park, KWS has allocated Sh70 million for the construction of fresh peripheral roads away from the lakeshore and another Sh6.5 million for staff houses after some were submerged in water. “At Nakuru, KWS has relocated some staff to safer grounds after a section of their residences and offices were submerged by floods in the recent weeks,” he said.  ?

On Monday, the director and KWS senior officials toured Ruma National Park in Homa Bay County to assess the situation after sections of the park were submerged in floods and fence washed away. ?

He said the officers at Ruma successfully returned a Rhino that had attempted to leave the restricted area after the fence was destroyed. ?

A split team has also been sent to Tsavo National Park and North Eastern region for similar assignments. ?

“We want to assess the floods situation in all wildlife protected areas to ensure all animals that have left the park are returned,” he said.

Mr Kiprono also warned those visiting such areas to remain careful at all time, saying most of the newly created roads pass through wild animals territories. ?Accompanied by Central Rift Assistant Director Lydia Kisoyan, he indicated that Lake Nakuru alone has moved 11 square kilometers away from the original lakeshore with the possibility of extending further.

?However, he said the situation would not in any way interfere with daily operations in the parks. The director also encouraged people living on higher places to protect the vegetation to control water flow into the lakes.