The Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, Rebecca Miano, has underscored the big role conservancies play to boost the country’s economy, reiterating that the government will pump more money to support them.
Ms. Miano observed the conservancies had been affected by the change of policies internationally, stating the government will move in to support the conservation efforts in the conservancies. “In the current budget, we are making proposals to support the conservancies that have been affected by changes of policies internationally,” she said.
Speaking at the Wildlife Tourism College of Maasai Mara, where she attended the first graduation of the college, the CS underscored that human-wild conflict is one of the priorities for the current administration.
Conservation is critical in preventing human-wild conflicts, and conservancies have played a big role. The State Department of Wildlife continues to support the conservancies through infrastructure and giving water, she said.
The CS observed that tourism has contributed tremendously to the country’s economy, saying that in 2024, the country received about 2.4 million foreign tourists, which was an increase of 16 percent compared to the previous year.
The department projects to receive over 3 million international tourists in 2025 and over 5 million domestic tourists.
Miano praised Narok County for the conservation efforts, saying the county is a role model of how a county can manage a national reserve, participate in tourism, and make a significant mark in the country. “I encourage all counties with national reserves to work with us so as to get our support to operationalize the national reserves,” reiterated the CS.
Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu, who accompanied the CS, decried that the county was heavily affected by the international policy to withdraw USAID funding, saying they have lost Sh. 838.5 million that was being pumped to the conservancies to boost conservation efforts.
“We have to see how we will deal with this big gap. When making the June budget, please, madam CS, help us as we sort out this USAID issue. It is a big loss to our nation,” he reiterated.
Governor Ntutu noted that the conservancies act as buffer zones for the wildlife that looms from the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The governor condoled with families that had lost their beloved ones through wild animals and called on the State Department of Wildlife to fast-track the compensations.
Daniel Sopia, the Chief Executive Officer of the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, said the main economic activity for the conservancies is to take care of wild animals and domestic animals.
He revealed that there were 24 conservancies owned by 17, 000 landowners who get Sh. 100 million monthly on their land lease payment.
During the event, 40 students graduated in various cadres, among them tour guiding & operations, food and beverage, housekeeping and laundry operations, and catering and hotel supervision.
The ceremony was led by the institute chair of the board of trustees, Professor James Ole Kiyiapi, and the institute principal, Moriaso Nabaala.
By Ann Salaton
