Message
from the KWS Director
The
branding of Saiwa Swamp and Mt Elgon National Parks is a great
milestone in the opening up of the western Tourism Circuit,
one of Kenya’s less explored destinations.
The
branding has involved various activities including the renovation
of staff houses, office blocks, viewing platforms and other
facilities in the park. The neighbouring communities have
benefited from the building of classrooms, refurbishment of
a dispensary and water projects. This is a way of KWS giving
back to the communities as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility.
With
the branding of Saiwa Swamp and Mt. Elgon National Parks we
expect increase in park visitation. However, a major challenge
these two parks are likely to face is lack of accommodation
facilities. KWS has through this branding programme built
two bandas in Mt. Elgon National Park and has refurbished
and converted the Warden’s house in Kitale into a guest
house for tourists. We call upon investors to consider building
hotels in Kitale and Kapenguria to serve as sleep over points
for visitors to these two parks.
At
the same time, KWS in partnership with Agricultural Development
Corporation (ADC) and other stakeholders are exploring possibilities
of acquiring land for a new airstrip near the Mt. Elgon national
park.
We
are also restocking wildlife in the two parks, including the
reintroduction of giraffes, antelopes and zebras. Horse riding
is another activity that is being offered as part of the park’s
buffet of activities.
Saiwa
Swamp National Park is the smallest park in Kenya measuring
only 3 sq. kms. We have minimised infrastructure development
in this park; like roads, office blocks and houses, which
would otherwise negatively affect the delicate and isolated
ecosystem.
To complete the Western tourism circuit we plan to brand two
more sanctuaries before the end of this financial year.
I
pledge, on behalf of the management and staff of KWS, to the
people of Kenya and the world, that we will discharge our
mandate of conserving and managing our wildlife for posterity.
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