Laikipia
County Government has made milestones in the revival of the tourism sector.
Tourism is one a leading sector in the
economy of the county, as in the last three years, as ventured in supporting
cultural-based tourism (CBTOs) run by organized communities.
Majority of the community-based organisations
are dominated by women and youth especially in pastoral communities where the
potential is immense.
County Trade CEC Nicholas Biwott Tirop said
the revival efforts by government include the construction of resource centres converted
to conference facilities.
He said
Governor Ndiritu Muriithi has interests
for Laikipia to be the most
popular tourist destination in Kenya.
Others
have benefitted with rehabilitation and construction of Bandas, creating campsites,
and construction of curios or Shanga facilities.
The members of the groups have
been trained in customer relations, communication skills, book keeping and
financial management, diversified beadwork products.
The groups have been assisted in the
construction of cottages at Twala tenebo cultural manyatta. Twala/tenebo is a
cultural village in Ilpolei Group Ranch in Mkogodo West ward that was created
in 1998 to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods through eco/cultural tourism
and bio-enterprises by a group of Maasai women.
Biwott said some of the services Twala
Tenebo village offers include; Community meeting resource centre rental for
100 visitors, eco manyatta cottages that accommodate up to 22 guests, camping
grounds, bee-keeping enterprise, Aloe production for cosmetics, beadwork
enterprise, and curio shop.
“On top of that, three guided eco-walks,
that is, walking with baboons, walking with livestock and touring and
landscape, also are provided,” said the CEC.
Some of the benefits members of this
cultural village get are getting dividends bi-annually, 10% of in-come for supporting
education for Maasai girls, and 10% of income to support the elderly community
members.
The department of tourism
has also constructed a Resource Centre at Ngambolo Cultural Centre which
contains a 100 capacity conference facility and an extra room serving as a curio
shop for the bead products in Kijabe group ranch, Mkogodo Westward. Cultural
entertainment, practices and beadwork products are the key practices in the
Centre. Construction of a Resource at Naatum Cultural Manyatta has been
complete courtesy of Laikipia Government.
This has facilitated a
conferencing and catering services with a capacity of 80 individuals. The
Manyatta is located in Murupusi Group Ranch in Mkogodo West and helps the women
undertake beadworks, organic farming, beekeeping, aloe products and safari
camping.
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