Protesters block airstrip, delay flights again
What you need to know:
- Three light planes belonging to Safarilink and Airkenya that were carrying tourists were surrounded by security officers as an impromptu meeting of leaders and county officials took place to try and end the stand-off.
- Ms Kudate said that the disputed land had never been excised from the 1,526 square kilometres trust land of the game reserve.
Three light aircraft were blocked from flying out of an airstrip in Narok County for more than two hours by protesters.
The demonstrators were protesting against the alleged alienation of 4,000 acres by a politician.
The protesters, including two MPs and six county assembly members, moved into Ol Kiombo Airstrip for the second time in less than a week, interfering with the take-off and landing of aircraft.
Three light planes belonging to Safarilink and Airkenya that were carrying tourists were surrounded by security officers as an impromptu meeting of leaders and county officials took place to try and end the stand-off.
Narok Woman Representative Soipan Kudate and Narok East MP Lemanken Aramat said the land was held in trust for the community and should be allocated to the county government, if not made part of the Maasai Mara National Reserve.
REVENUE FROM TOURISM
Ms Kudate said that the disputed land had never been excised from the 1,526 square kilometres trust land of the game reserve.
More than 15 tented camps and lodges, are situated on the land, which is also a breeding area for leopards, cheetahs and lions, making it a prime tourist attraction. The Narok County Government collects Sh30 million every week as revenue from tourism.
“The registration of this land was not preceded by any resolution of the National Assembly approving the excision as required by the Wildlife and Conservation Management Act,” said Ms Kudate.
Mr Aramat said he would petition Parliament’s Land committee to tour the area and investigate how the “public land” was given to an individual.
