The tourism industry in Elgeyo Marakwet is set to receive a major boost following the arrival of the Rothschild giraffes.
Officials from the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) delivered the giraffes at the Rimoi Game Reserve on October 19, 2022.
According to Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Wisley Rotich, the giraffes were delivered following his request to the KWS.
The request was informed by complaints from members of the public and tourists that were visiting the Rimoi Game Reserve over their inability to see any wild animals.
“After receiving feedback during the campaigns about Rimoi game reserve, many residents and tourists complained that they are not able to see the wild animals anytime they visit,” noted Rotich when announcing the arrival of the Rothschild Giraffes.
“Immediately I took over, I made a formal communication to the KWS Director to commence restocking of the Reserve. I also requested them to support us to set up a cage at the gate for some animals to make it easy for tourists,” he added.
And weeks after the request was made, the county’s tourism department together with KWS officials received Rothschild giraffes species which the county boss says “will boost our tourist numbers and make the reserve more attractive.”
“We look forward to making this a reality,” he added.
Transform Rimoi Game Reserve
Further, the governor noted that he will soon be engaging the community and all stakeholders in a public participation session to seek their views on how the county can transform Rimoi Game Reserve for the benefit of the community.
He also challenged the private investors to start investing in hospitality facilities like hotels and eco-lodges in the reserve he described as a ‘high potential area’.
The Rimoi Game Reserve is an animal conservation reserve that is a relatively small reserve, covering 66 km2 and is protected by the Kenya Wildlife Service KWS).
It lies adjacent to Lake Kamnarock which has recently dried up and is part of a conservation area that is five larger than its size.
Traditionally, the only large mammals in Rimoi and Kamnarok were elephants, which wander in and out and up and down the valley at will, in accordance with the availability of water and food.
The elephants feed mainly at night.
Smaller mammals found at the reserve include dik-dik, impala, bush pig, warthog, monkeys, civet, genet, and pangolin.
Reptiles include; crocodiles, Agama and other lizards, tortoises and many snakes.
The reserve is currently being fenced (with a corridor being left for the elephants). The Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo Governors released thirty zebras into the reserve in 2016 as part of a plan by the Elgeyo Marakwet County Government to restock the reserve.
The reserve had been neglected for many years, until April 2015 when the Elgeyo Marakwet County Government and the Kenya Wildlife Service collaborated in rehabilitating
