More than Sh100 million was raised in Maralal town in three days during the International Camel Derby.
Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal said this year's event was the most successful as the county government generated a lot of revenue.
He said on Tuesday that the income will be used to offset used by the county government to facilitate the event.
He encouraged local investors to continue improving the hospitality industry in the town for forthcoming events.
“We have challenges on accommodation. Hotels in Maralal had been fully booked and it is an encouragement to our local investors to improve hospitality industry from which they harvest good profits,” he said.
Most hotels took advantage of an increased demand on accommodation services in the town to hike accommodation fee up to 400 per cent.
A spot check by the Star revealed that most hotels had been charging their customers Sh2,000 for each of their single rooms per night, up from the normal Sh500.
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Wilson Awiti who operates a business in Maralal town said the derby boosted their new venture, after they sold more than 3,000 branded t-shirts, as well as branded cups and plates.
Ismael Ali, chairman of a business enterprise dubbed Plastic Boys Maralal, also earned big from his business investment that deals in selling of traditional products including wooden jars, jugs, milk guards and spears.
Even though there was an increased number of tourists at Yare this year, Ali said a market for all his products was created by local residents.
“This is our tenth time to participate in this event and it was well organized this year. It is in this edition that we have seen an increased number of local tourists,” he said.
However, business was not so good for first time traders at the event like Lucy Lolosoli from Uaso area in Samburu East who sells traditional Maasai attire.