SPONSORED CONTENT: Tana River County, the home of Kenyan beauty and diverse cultures

Rarely has her beauty been spoken about, and so, those who have not visited her have no idea.

Right at the North of the Coast region, on a 35,378km2 land, stands tall the home of diverse cultures, game reserves, native animals and a serene environment – the Tana River County.

Majorly inhabited by the Pokomo who are farmers, and the peaceful Orma and Wardei people, who started as pastoralist and have embraced farming, Tana River County can be best described as the hidden essence of Kenyan beauty.

Tana has the longest and oldest natural wildlife corridor that starts north in Baomo, Ras Kamboni Somalia through Kora, the Tsavo East down to Manda.

GEORGE ADAMSON

The county boasts a number of national reserves: The Tsavo East National Reserve, the Mwingi Game Reserve, South Kitui National Reserve and the home of the legendary George Adamson, aka, ‘Bwana Simba’, of the Born Free fame, Kora National Park.

Adamson was one of Africa’s most famous conservationists. He had his camp at the base of the 442-metre-high Kora Rock.

History remembers the legend for having had exceptional chemistry with the wild lion named Simba Marara. This saw him earn the nick name, “Simba”.

The man is said to have cheated death several times by surviving a number of attacks from his own allies. His body now lies at the Kora National Park, a place where only a few have even heard of.

ENDANGERED PRIMATES

The county also prides on its Primate National Reserve that is home to two endangered primates – The mangabey monkey which is only found in Tana River and the red colobus monkey.

The endangered primates inhabit 16 patches of forest that extend for 60km down the meandering lower Tana River, between Mitapani and Nkanjonja.
Despite the reserve not having received much attention from the national government, the county government has breathed life to it, ensuring that such pride is jealously protected.

County Chief Executive for Tourism, Trade, Industrialisation and Cooperative Development, Yahya Ali Barrow, says it is time for the country to pay attention to what it offers in the tourism sector.

“Our reserves have the most unique bird species, monkeys, insect and a number of historical sites that have not been captured on grid,” he says.

Mr Barrow says the County Government is currently in the quest to partner with top hotel owners in the country and in Singapore, China and France, to establish five star hotels along the River Tana.

HOTELS

“We have a number of hotels in the county that we are currently working towards upgrading so that they can achieve the five star level, and we are also inviting investors to come and establish businesses in our vast lands. Let them come and invest,” he adds.

Interested investors are assured of spaces along the river, where the county government has started a project that will see a section where people visit to feed the river’s crocodiles and also see hippos.

“We are taking this county somewhere. It is the awakening moment for this county and we can only call every interested party on board not just to build this county, but also to expand the beauty of our country,” Barrow says.

In Tana Delta Sub-county are a number of historical sites coupled with moving ancient stories. Some would qualify for myths, but few are thought to be a true part of history.

FUMO LIYONGO

For instance, one gigantic being of ancient times with origins in Tanzania and whose legendary tales have been told to children and published in books, Fumo Liyongo, is believed to have been buried somewhere in Kipini. A spot has been pointed out as the actual grave of the legendary giant.

Tana River does not run short of history. Though hardly mentioned, the county played a major role it the independence of Kenya.

In Galole Constituency in the outskirts of the Hola town stands the Mau Mau Girl’s Memorial School, named after the 11 Mau Mau warriors killed during the Hola Massacre. A monument with the names of the 11 is mounted right in the school compound.

Hola Prison that sits right at the centre of Hola town also happens to hold a historical detail.

MAU MAU

The prison was used by the colonialists as a remote punishment camp for hard-core Mau Mau insurgents who refused to recant their oaths or affiliation to the movement.

Among the detainees who tasted the wrath of the British in the prison include Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. It is also said that former Supreme Court Chief Justice Willy Mutunga was in Hola Prison during the Kanu era.

The county also takes pride in River Tana, which residents majorly use for agricultural purposes.

Despite the food insecurity history in the county, it has fertile soil that if properly cultivated, can feed the entire country.

The main crops which are grown here are maize and cotton in the Bura Irrigation Scheme, and water melons and rice in the Tarda Irrigation Scheme.

The schemes previously used to perform well and locals still believe that with proper management, the currently under-performing schemes can pick up fast.

MANGO FARMING

Farmers in the county also depend on large scale mango production. The mangos are exported to other counties. There are plans to establish a mango pulp processing factory.

Tana River is also a county of mineral resources. While some are being explored, others are lying idle in the ground.

The most explored mineral is gypsum, a raw material that has attracted more than 20 companies in Bura Sub-County. It is estimated that the gypsum deposits in the county are enough to sustain six cement factories for years.

Apart from gypsum, the county also boasts of petroleum prospects in Tana North, first class fine sand from the River Tana and gold deposits in Danisa.

It is a land that definitely has a lot of potential that is yet to be explored. The current county regime has laid ground to ensure the region thrives economically and also attracts friends from all over the world.

The county enjoys calm and assured security, with communities meeting during cultural celebrations to dance, sing and partake of sumptuous meals together as a sign of enhancing unity.

This virgin county has the potential to yield and nurture.