GENERAL
The long rain started very early, and it looks like we are in for another exceptionally wet year. This month alone we have had over 200 mm (8”) of rain. The prediction is for El Nino to continue through 2027. A vehicle was washed over the Mara Rianta bridge on the 23ʳᵈ, the vehicle was recovered on the 26ᵗʰ but the two occupants were never found. The approaches to the bridge over the Mogor River were washed away on the 23ʳᵈ, the bridge has been standing since 1937, the damage reflects the very severe de-afforestation that has taken place over the past few years. The Nyakweri forest has virtually disappeared, it has been replaced with farmland – an ecological disaster. The only glimmer of hope is land that is being leased to the Pangolin Project, they now have 5,000 hectares leased.
We were introduced to the new County Executive Member (CEC) for Tourism on the 9ᵗʰ. Mr. R Simotwo has replaced Mr. J Sipitiek who is now CEC for Education, the position that was formerly held by Mr. Simotwo.
We stopped grazing in the Triangle on the 15ᵗʰ, after weeks of good rain and grass growth. Overall, the locals adhered to the rules and boundaries that we set. All except the Kalenjin near Ngiro-are. They vandalized property, burnt down trees, collected firewood, sent children, rather than adults to herd cattle. On one occasion young teenagers threw stones at a lioness, resulting in one of the children being killed and partly eaten. On another occasion six men tried to steal meat from a buffalo that had been killed by lions – chasing off the lions. One of the six was arrested and prosecuted.
The Kenya Police checked and certified our canine handlers, with their dogs. This is an annual occurrence. Sadly, one of our dogs, Naeku, has just died from suspected toxicity
We have switched from Pastel to ODOO after months of training, for our stores and purchasing. The system seems much better and more comprehensive. We have linked our stores, Sekenani and the Nairobi office to the system.
We held our Board meeting on the 20th in the Mara. It was noted that the Collaboration Agreement expires on the 30th June and we have written to the County on the matter.
COLABORATION AGREEMENT
We removed all the machine and truck operators after they were found siphoning fuel and selling it to a trader in Talek. The vehicle that was being used to transport the fuel was impounded and the two people in it were arrested.
The County appointed new operators and they started on the 15th, most are young and fairly inexperienced, and we will review their work again in early March.
We have completed the new toilet block at the Keekorok airstrip and the bead sellers’ shelter is progressing well, as is the new revenue office.
Renovations to the Administrator’s house are complete and the Wardens’ offices are nearly complete.
We have completed work at Ngama Hills and handed the camp over to Park management on the 19ᵗʰ.
We are starting on re-roofing Talek Gate at the beginning of March.
STAFF
Mr. Joshua Sipala was dismissed for stealing and selling fuel. This was a major shock, as Sipala had worked for us for 23 years, had started as an apprentice and ended up as head machine operator. He was one of the main people responsible for the excellent road network, both in the Triangle and in the Main Mara.
One of our rangers Cpt Koros was injured by a lion on the 8ᵗʰ as he and others tried to drive it back towards the Reserve
WILDLIFE
An old female elephant was found dead at the salt-lick on the 1st, she died of natural causes. Another elephant was treated for a dislocation and very swollen and infected joint on the 18ᵗʰ
TOURISM
Tourist numbers in January were almost identical to last year (5,211 NRA this year against 5,303 last year), but it looks like February will be much better, most camps and lodges have been busy for the past two weeks
SECURITY
A total of twelve people were arrested in February. One buffalo and a hippo were killed and butchered.
Two people were arrested on the 2ⁿᵈ as they were fishing near Ngira in the Northern Serengeti. The following day three people were arrested as the butchered hippo close the ranger camp at Kogatende.
Two more people were arrested at a place called Maji Machafu in the Lemai Wedge on the 9ᵗʰ night. They were carrying food and obviously on their way to hunt hippo.
One person was arrested near the Kijito campsite for carrying buffalo meat that he had taken from a lion kill on the 10th.
Our Ngiro-are rangers saw a herd of buffalo running near Maji ya Bett, across from the swamp. on the 26ᵗʰ evening and went to investigate. They went to investigate and found poachers who had just killed a buffalo. They managed to catch one person and then set an ambush. Three more people were arrested; they were carrying 10 sacks of buffalo meat.
REVENUE & ACCOUNTS
Our management accounts for the first seven months show:
Our share of revenue was Ksh 587,874,297, against last year’s of Ksh 627,988,090, a 6.4% drop,
Expenditure was Ksh 321,800,854, against Ksh 293,110,346, an increase of 9.7%.
Most of the increase came from staff salaries – Ksh 14 million. This reflects the normal annual salary increase and the intense pressure to employ people. There isn’t a day that goes by without requests to employ people.
REPORT ON FOCUS FOR FEBRUARY 2026
The Contractor, Homeland Citi Investments, has finally completed the Ilookwaya Milk Cooling Plant. One of the community projects we have been supporting.
We have shored up one of the washaways at Naisukut with gabions, it had severely undercut the box culvert, making the road unsafe.
Work on the Visitor Centre is progressing more slowly than hoped, partly because of the unseasonal rain, partly because of delays by the contractor.
FOCUS FOR MARCH 2026
Continue with road repairs;
Continue with Visitor Centre;
Repair second wash away at Naisukut;
Install cameras;
Host team to review roan importation; and
Start on housing for GSU at Oloololo.
Work on Collaboration Agreement
Deploy staff at toilets;
Complete Bead shelter;
Complete new revenue office;
Complete Wardens’ office at Sekenani;
Continue with roofing Talek gate;
Start on murraming new road;
Continue with road repairs; and
Continue maintaining County Road machinery.