- Ruto directed the Tourism CS to expedite how to actualize the process between them and Kajiado County Government.
- He made the remarks during Maa cultural week at Sekanani in the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Narok on Tuesday.
President William Ruto has said that the national government will soon return the management of Amboseli National Park to the Kajiado County government.
Ruto directed the Tourism CS to expedite how to actualize the process between them and Kajiado County Government.
He made the remarks during Maa cultural week at Sekanani in the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Narok on Tuesday.
The move made the Maa leaders shed tears of joy led by Kajiado governor Joseph Ole Lenku.
"You have demonstrated beyond the doubt that you have the capacity to manage the resource," said Ruto.
He added that after meeting the Maa leaders, he is now satisfied because of the history of the Maasai on conservation and said those involved in the process should start working towards the course.
The head of state noted former president Mwai Kibaki had issued executive order during his reign on the same and confirmed that will also be the same case for his administration.
He also that the Kajiado county government, which hosts the park, will add more land for the conservation of wildlife so that it can increase the proceeds that come from the park.
Ruto also directed that in counties where they host national parks, the revenue that comes from these resources should be shared 50 percent between the county government and the national government.
"Once we have done that, the county administrations should make good use of these monies so that it can uplift the living standards of the people who played a great role in conserving the environment and wildlife," said Ruto.
He revealed that the Maa cultural week will now be a national event and the national government will play a big role in the success of the event which will not be annually.
"As from next year, we will put budget and the two ministries of Tourism and cultures should provide a clear framework in the ceremony so that make it better and in a proper manner, " he said.
The president said the event will now be part of the itinerary of the tourism circuit and programme and so that it can International visitors and will now coincide with the annual wildebeest migration.
Ruto has revealed that the UN Nation through UNESCO has now recognised the Maasai culture for preserving its culture that has stood for a long time.
He said that the move has put the community and the country in the world and they have celebrated the special aspect of the Maa culture.
In recognising the culture, UNESCO highlighted the transition period involving the rite of passage among the boys into a new realm of living.
Enkipaata is the Induction of boys leading to initiation. Eunoto is the shaving of the morans paving the way for adulthood. Olng'esherr is the meat-eating ceremony that marks the end of moranism and the beginning of eldership.
Ruto was responding to pleas from Maa leaders led by governors Patrick Ole Ntutu (Narok), Joseph ole Lenku(Kajiado)and Jonathan Leleliit (Samburu), who also said that apart from Maasai Mara in Narok and Samburu game reserve, Amboseli should also benefit from proceeds from the tourism sector.
Leleliit said it was a big mistake for former leaders of the defunct Kajiado county council to let the park be managed by KWS while the land belonged to the community.
"This is one of the historical injustices that was committed to the Maa community and we will appeal directly to the head of state to have the park back to our people," said Leleliit.
The governor added that after the wildlife as the top tourist attraction, the second attraction is the Maa culture.
"Our culture has brought thousands of international and domestic tourists to our region to witness it, so we must protect our culture and wildlife territories in equal measures,” said Leleliit.
He used the opportunity to announce that the second edition of the Maa cultural week will be staged at Samburu National Park next year.
Ntutu said the main focus of the cultural week is the unity of the community and forging a way forward in taking its position in regional and regional matters.
“Despite the unity agenda, it’s very important to bring the community's diverse culture together and deliberate on how to conserve it for future generations and preserve it and hand it to our children so the culture will not be eroded,” said the county boss.
Ntutu added that cultural event is destined for the community to celebrate its cultural diversity annually but on rotation.
On his part, Lenku said that the first event is jointly done by Narok, Kajiado and Samburu counties in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife.
"We will also use the occasion to educate the community on the do, and don’t do as well as deliberate the community position Nationally," said Lenku.
He also noted that the community is facing many challenges and it is time to forge a united front and discuss the matters and try to achieve solutions together.