The county government of Narok has resolved to involve the locals living around the Maasai Mara game reserve in the formation of the new Maasai Mara Management Plan.
Narok Governor Samuel Tunai said the Maasai Mara game reserve is a great resource in the globe as it is ranked the eighth wonder of the world, and for it to be successful, the community living around the park should be fully involved in its management.
“We in the national and county government know that we have to involve the locals in the management aspect of the Maasai Mara people. Hence it is very important to hold such consultation forums to listen to their views,”
Tunai spoke yesterday in a Narok hotel after holding a day-long consultation meeting with over 200 people who live near the game reserve and a portion of the Narok Members of the County Assembly.
Tunai said the county government has been giving 19 percent to the local community who have leased their land for hosting wild animals.
The governor said a committee of elders has been put in place to help resolve any grievances that could arise around the game reserve.
On the locals who have leased their land for the conservancies, the governor said he will hold a meeting with both the parties in a bid to resolve any issues that have been arising.
Narok council of Elders chairman Kelena Ole Nchoe said the meeting agreed to put aside their differences for the sake of the great Mara.
He recalled that the Maasai Mara was set aside by their ancestors so as to benefit all the Maasai community regardless of where they were living.
Ole Nchoe asked the county government to manage the reserve with transparency without any external influence.
An environmentalist Professor Moitamei Dapash lauded Governor Samuel Tunai for involving the community in the formation of the Management plan so that they too can give their views on the issues affecting them.
Dapash confirmed that most issues that have been hurting the community regarding the management at the Maasai Mara game reserve had been resolved in the day-long meeting.