Give us time to probe claims on revenue, panel tells leaders

A senate committee wants the two groups fighting over revenue from Maasai Mara Game Reserve to give it time to conclude its investigations.

The Senate Finance Committee faulted Narok County leaders for organising protests against Governor Samuel Tunai while the probe is going on.
The leaders want Mr Tunai to resign over claims of mismanagement.

The team and a group of MPs said the action by residents to stage protest was uncalled for given that a petition over the matter was before the Senate.

“The issues the protesters raised are the same ones being investigated by this committee. They are jumping the gun by ignoring the fact that we are processing the petition they brought to the Senate,” Committee chairman Billow Kerrow (Mandera, URP) said.

RELEASE THE REPORT NEXT WEEK

Mr Kerrow said they will conclude the matter and release their report this week. “We will tell residents of Narok how much is collected from the sanctuary and if the money is being accounted for,” he said.

Mr Tunai’s antagonists say he is controlling the Mara Conservancy and Kenya Airport Parking Services that collects revenue in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve on behalf of the county, something they are uncomfortable with.

And MPs Gedeon Konchela (Kilgoris), Lemanken Aramat (Narok East) and Woman Representative Soipan Tuya want the senate team given time to handle the issue.

“We advise the leadership of Narok to respect the law. The issues raised are under investigations and they should wait for a conclusive report,” said Mr Konchela who spoke at Parliament Tuesday.

The MPs condemned Monday’s demonstrations in which two people died and six others injured, including a police officer.

They accused some leaders of being habouring selfish interests in a quest for wealth. “That is why they have ganged up against a governor legally elected,” they said.

The conflict, they claimed, was purely for control of revenue from the game reserve. Maasai Mara is one of the greatest tourist destinations of the world.

“It is malicious for elected leaders to contribute to the challenges a county governments is facing. Politicians behind the chaotic protests are purveyors of impunity, agents of corruption and originators of violence,” said Ms Tuya.

“We appeal to the two groups to work together without any conditions if indeed they are committed to steer the county to development.”

OUST GOVERNOR

But Narok North MP Moitalel Kenta said they would not give up their efforts to oust the governor.

He accused Mr Tunai of revoking the contract awarded to Equity Bank to collect revenue from the sanctuary without following the proper procedures. “This has led to massive loss of revenue,” he said.

“We are talking of more than Sh1.3 billion that cannot be accounted for. We have written to various institutions but the problem is yet to be fixed,” Mr Kenta added. He denied that his team organised the chaotic protests.