KWS plan to take over the Mara opposed

A Kenya Wildlife Service suggestion that it should manage the Maasai Mara Game Reserve has been received with anger by Narok County leaders.

Six MPs, 30 county assembly members and Narok county executive Thursday asked KWS to “stop dreaming”. They said the county leadership could not hand over the reserve to the State corporation.

KWS director William Kiprono had earlier in the week accused the Narok county government of failing to conserve wildlife in the world famous reserve, and suggested that his organisation should take over.

Narok West MP Patrick ole Ntutu said KWS should first “take care of its own house” before coming to Narok to take over the Mara Game Reserve.

“KWS is already facing a poaching menace in which 370 elephants were lost last year. Already 162 elephants are reported to have been killed in the last seven months. How can they handle extra responsibility?” he asked and accused Mr Kiprono of basking in his predecessor’s glory and failing to deal with rogue officers in northern Kenya, Nakuru and Tsavo.

The lawmaker’s sentiments were echoed by County Assembly members led by Kuya ole Kijabe, who accused KWS of failing to manage Tsavo conservancy, Lake Nakuru National Park and Amboseli.

“What guarantee do we have that KWS would take care of the animals in the Mara, and yet it has already failed in areas it is mandated to guard?” asked Mr Kijabe.

The push and pull comes following a stakeholders’ forum last week in which it was revealed that only 20 per cent of wildlife were in the protected area, while 80 per cent had moved out.