Livestock hurting Isiolo tourism: official
What you need to know:
- CEC member leads operation to remove livestock from game reserves.
- More than 5,000 livestock were grazing illegally in the Buffalo Springs and Sarova Shaba reserves.
The Isiolo County government has launched an operation to flush out livestock from game reserves.
County Executive in charge of Tourism Suleiman Shunu and County Rangers commander Abdulah Golicha led security officers on Monday to flush out more than 5,000 livestock grazing illegally in the Buffalo Springs and Sarova Shaba reserves.
For five months now, hundreds of herders from the drought-prone neighbouring counties of Samburu, Laikipia, Wajir and Marsabit have moved their camels, cows, goats and sheep to protected areas in search of pasture.
The reserves have also been a battlefield for bandits, which has hurt tourism.
The most recent conflict was between the Turkana and Samburu communities in which more than 20 people died over five months.
Mr Shunu said the parks in the county were ranked second nationally after Narok in terms of revenue yet the current security situation was deteriorating because of the laxity of rangers.
He said tourists visiting the reserves have expresses concern, wondering whether they were grazing areas for livestock or tourist destinations.
Mr Shunu said the county government had set aside Sh50 million to for the Bisan-adi game reserve.
He said consultations to revamp the parks would be held with the Kenya Wildlife Service, the police and the county government.
