GENERAL
We had 205 mm (4.2”) of rain in April, bringing the total for the year to date to 616 mm. Heavy rain on the 10ᵗʰ, causing extensive flooding. The rains in recent years have been characterized by these severe storms, causing extensive damage to roads and infrastructure. These rains are no exception.
We held our Board meeting on the 11ᵗʰ and agreed to continue with assisting the Main Reserve, as we find a way that satisfies ourselves, the County and meets all the legal requirements.
We have vaccinated 2,000 dogs against rabies along the boundary.
We have stopped a developer from clearing a lodge site in what appears to be well within the Reserve near Oloololo Gate. It is vital that the Reserve boundary be surveyed as soon as possible - we have been trying for several years but with no success
COLABORATION AGREEMENT
We held our quarterly planning meeting on the 9ᵗʰ at the Mara Conservation Centre. The Committee resolved to try and meet the Governor to get clarification on the extent of work to be done under the Collaboration Agreement. In the meantime, it was agreed that only essential work will be carried out and that we would complete existing projects.
We repaired the water supply at Enombuai and will send a team there in May to undertake other repairs.
The Committee then visited the new filtration plant at Sand River; this plant purifies quite saline water to a level that can be bottled as drinking water.
Work is progressing well on the house at Sand River, and it should be completed in early May.
We replaced all the taps in the washrooms at Look Out, repaired the guttering and replaced some broken toilet seats.
We worked on the road to Ashnil and almost completed the road between Simba and Talek. Most of the roads in the Reserve are in excellent condition and will only require grading and minor repairs.
WILDLIFE
Dr Ashif treated a lion cub with puncture wounds on a front limb on the 13ᵗʰ, it is progressing well. He continues to treat numerous cases of injured zebra and giraffe along the escarpment.
Dr Njoroge and the veterinary team from the Main Reserve joined Dr Ashif on the 15th to collar our cheetah. Unfortunately, the cheetah died as it was being revived from sedation. A postmortem was carried out and the cause was given as gas retention, as a result of a twisted gut – pushing up the diaphragm against the lungs, and fat deposits around the heart as a result of a lack of exercise.
TOURISM
Non-Resident visitor numbers were down by 34% last year (3,041 vs 4,561 in 2024), the lowest since 2022. There are concerns this year – the ongoing Trade War; the significant drop in the American Stock Market; and universal uncertainties over the political situation in America. We can expect a fairly significant decline in tourist numbers until things revert to normal.
SECURITY
Three people were arrested on the night of the 31ˢᵗ near Kichwa ya Ndovu in the Lemai Wedge by the Ngiro-are team. They were on their way back from hunting and had killed an eland and a warthog. They were carrying 10 wire snares.
The rangers saw seven people who had just killed a hippo in the Lemai Wedge on the 3ʳᵈ, unfortunately all of them managed to elude the rangers. Three days later the Ngiro-are rangers managed to arrest two people who were on their way to hunt, six wire snares were recovered and two more later in the week.
46 wire snares were recovered near the Lemai airstrip on the 16ᵗʰ, one impala was rescued. Over the next few days another four snares were recovered.
On the 28ᵗʰ, members of the Angata community protested the subdivision of land on 6,000 acres (2,400 hectares) that has been in dispute for years. The protests led to the injuring of at least two policemen and the killing of five community members. At least six vehicles were burnt as well. Peace was restored when the Governor braved a hostile crowd and calmed them down.
REVENUE & ACCOUNTS
Total revenue was down by 37% in February (Ksh 44,405,056 vs 69,701,742 in February last year) and we can expect the same trend in the coming months. This is well below current expenditure, and we are having to use reserves to meet costs. The work that we do in the Main Reserve adds to the burden.
We have received a clearance letter from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), indicating that they have no further tax issues and complementing us on our cooperation.
REPORT ON FOCUS FOR APRIL 2025
The rains have severely hampered our work on the roads, but we continue to patch them where ever possible. We have improved the by-pass at Naisukut, installed more culverts on the roads around Oloololo and graded the road to Ngiro-are.
We put a roof over three uni-huts at Purungat and also two at Iseiya.
We completed renovations on senior staff housing at Iseiya and have started repairing and bat-proofing housing at Ngiro-are. One or two ceilings had fallen in, and bats were a problem in the office and two staff houses. We are also re-painting the houses and renovating the office.
FOCUS FOR MAY 2025
Continue with road repairs where possible.
Complete repair work at Kilo 2 and Ngiro-are.
Prepare Annual Work Plan.
Meet with senior KAPS management.
Work on Collaboration Agreement
Finalize house at Sand River;
Continue with roads works;
Repair damage at Enombuai;
Repair damage at Ol Kiombo;
Repair power supply to repeater at Ololtokoshi;
Continue with staff housing at Keekorok.