Leaders in Narok County have thanked President William Ruto for handing over the Amboseli National Park to the County Government after several years of being managed by the National Government.
Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu said the initiative is a big gain to the Maasai Community, who have been coexisting peacefully with wild animals and have conserved their environment.
He reiterated that the initiative will motivate the pastoralists’ community to continue protecting their environment from degradation as they protect their rich culture.
The governor took the opportunity to welcome both local and international tourists to the Maasai Mara National Reserve and Amboseli National Park during this Christmas festival.
“We welcome both domestic and international tourists to come to our national reserves this Christmas festival to enjoy seeing thousands of fauna and flora species,” he said.
He revealed that plans are in place to reclaim all the land grabbed from the Maa community, including Kedong Ranch in the Suswa area.
Governor Ntutu spoke during the installation of Ilukumae Clan Traditional Chief Ong’uarri Ole Nakuyo at his home in Ilkerin area, Narok South Sub County, where he was accompanied by Narok South Member of Parliament Kitilai Ntutu and a host of Members of the County Assembly from the county.
The installed leader assumes the responsibility of guiding, protecting, and fostering unity within the Ilkumae clan, as well as ensuring that the customs and practices of the clan continue.
The county boss took the opportunity to urge the Maa community to protect their culture for posterity but warned against retrogressive culture that hinders girls from completing their education.
Ntutu observed that during long holidays, many girls are married off while others are subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) that compromises their education and future careers.
“I will not protect any man who is accused of impregnating a young girl or any individual who subjects girls to FGM. These practices compromise our prosperity as a county,” he warned.
He asked the residents to take advantage of the bursary disbursed to less fortunate people to educate both girls and boys.
In a different function, the Narok County Executive Member in charge of Tourism and Wildlife, Johnson Sipitiek, praised President Ruto for honouring the Maa community and giving them back the Amboseli National Park.
He noted that the initiative comes with several benefits, among them creating more job opportunities for the residents and the community benefiting from mega-development projects from the revenue collected from the park.
By Ann Salaton
