Mutua: We'll work with CS Kindiki to deploy tourist police in Samburu to boost tourism

Samburu is one of the counties that is reportedly affected by cases of banditry.

In Summary
  • He also engaged with the community leaders to understand the challenges hindering tourism growth.

  • Mutua promised to address some of the challenges by supporting infrastructure development and marketing initiatives.

Tourism and Wildlife CS Alfred Mutua on his second Utalii fresh tour in Rereti Elephant Sanctuary in Samburu on March 21,2024.
Tourism and Wildlife CS Alfred Mutua on his second Utalii fresh tour in Rereti Elephant Sanctuary in Samburu on March 21,2024.
Image: X

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has pledged to work with the Ministry of Interior to address security concerns in Samburu to boost tourism.

During his second day of the Utalii fresh tour on Thursday, Mutua said that to scale up tourism in the area, the state of insecurity must be dealt with.

He noted that the insecurity has caused a shift of tourists to other neighboring counties.

“I commit to reaching out to my counterpart in the Ministry of Interior CS Kithure Kindiki to explore the possibility of deploying tourist police around parks and reserves in the county,” Mutua said.

“I also want to urge the community to discard insecure cultural practices. I want many visitors to come to this area as there shouldn’t be a disparity of Samburu to Isiolo."

He also engaged with the community leaders to understand the challenges hindering tourism growth.

Mutua promised to address some of the challenges by supporting infrastructure development and marketing initiatives.

"One of the marketing strategies will be to take the lead in planning the annual Maa cultural festival to be hosted by Samburu County," Mutua said.

“I want to strategize our marketing such that we can not only attract foreign tourists but also domestic tourists."

On the tour, Mutua said he intends to map out new tourism circuits in the area which are yet to be exploited.

“I assure you my ministry's full support and commitment to unlocking Samburu's tourism potential,” Mutua said.

Mutua emphasized that he shall also work on ensuring a full economy of tourism yearly.

“The most important thing I will do as the CS is to eliminate low season and high season. We would like to have tourists from January to December,” Mutua said.

One of the tourist attractions he visited was the Reteti Community Elephant Sanctuary which hosts orphaned elephants.

He promised to reinforce his commitment to preserving Samburu's natural heritage.

Samburu is one of the counties that is reportedly affected by cases of banditry and other forms of violent crimes in the country.

Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has been leading operations in the area in efforts to end the menace.

The Interior boss on February 27, said cattle rustling in Northern Kenya has over the years become an organised criminal enterprise.


WATCH: The latest videos from the Star