Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi has said the 6 million year old Baringo fossil Orrorin Tugenesis discovered 23 years ago at Rondonin, Saimo Soi ward in Baringo North will boost tourism.
Cheboi made the remarks when he received a courtesy call from the CEO of the museums of Kenya Eustance Kitonga and Arror elders at his office to discuss the return of the fossil that is set to be brought back to its original home in Kipsaraman once the construction of the community museum is completed by the end of the year.
“This will be a game changer once the fossil lands in the county we will reap profit through tourism and accrue revenue generation,” Cheboi said.
The governor noted that return of Arorrin Tugenin fossil which is under the custody of the museums of Kenya will eventually open up the county for development and tourism purposes and also securing the hominid man.
Kitonga on the other hand said that the fossil was stored safely in a bank since Kipsaraman community Museum lacked better storage facility for the fossil and did not guarantee its security.
“The incomplete community museum building was not fit for storing the precious fossil hence I took it to a bank together with other 50,000 fossils, as we await the completion of Kipsaraman community Museum by end of this year,” Kitonga noted.
Saimo Kipsaraman member of county assembly (MCA) John Aengwo hinted that they were delighted that the region will finally receive a number of tourists which will in the end open up the community and county at large.
Michael Chebon, Saimo Soi MCA further expressed his enthusiasm noting that through development within the locality, it would address insecurities that has been a hitch in the region for quite some time.
The fossils were discovered in the year 2001 by a team of French scientists led by palaeontologist Brigitte Senut and Geologist Martin Pickford in Rondinin village along Tugen Hills in Baringo North sub-county.
According to the scientists the fossil is one of the oldest human, the size of a chimpanzee with small teeth and thick enamel similar to the modern humans and was discovered along with other 50, 000 native fossils.
By Caroline Cherono
