March 2026

GENERAL

When we were assessing risks for the Annual Work Plan, we cited two very real risks:

  • The war in the Middle East escalating.  We were more worried about Gaza than Iran; and

  • El Niño continuing.

We might have been able to deal with one of these risks, but both simultaneously provide a real challenge.

We had a number of huge rainstorms on the 5ᵗʰ/6ᵗʰ, resulting in very substantial damage to the roads and bridges in the Triangle.  We then had other severe rainstorms throughout the month.  The Mara River reached unprecedented levels, higher even than in May 2024, when the top bridge at Purungat was swept away.  Bridges and culverts at Sabaringo, Naisukut and Sankuria were severely damaged.  The drift at Sabaringo near the Kichwa airstrip was destroyed beyond repair.  Purungat gate was underwater and ticketing equipment, batteries and inverters destroyed.  The bridge itself was damaged, as was the approach on the Triangle side.  Some of the roads have been severely damaged and it will take tens of millions of shillings to repair the damage.  We have been unable to progress with the Visitor Centre; the area is completely flooded and unworkable.  

Outside the Triangle the Bridge across the Mogor river was damaged for the second time in a month, The Triangle was cut off for days, with all bridges either damaged or flooded.  The approaches to the Talek and Simba bridges were severely damaged but have since been repaired.  The storms were undoubtedly very heavy, but the real problem lies in environmental degradation; overgrazing, leading to hundreds of thousands of basically bare earths; De-afforestation, The Nyakweri has ceased to exist and what little remains continues to be destroyed; and of course, a complete disregard for riparian laws on cultivation and construction along riverbanks.  This comes at a time when the world is on edge over the war in Iran, we are receiving numerous cancellations and can expect very little revenue over the coming months. On top of that we can expect a significant hike in fuel prices and possible shortages

We hosted Drs Hamish Currie and Louis Greef, together with Ian Craig to review progress on the importation of roan antelope and our readiness to receive them.  We should receive some surplus males from Ruma in the coming months and then eight females in February/March next year. 

We held a meeting with Grade A and Mwanzoni and agreed that Grade A will be responsible for all Concrete work on the Visitor Centre, specialist contractors will be engaged for steel work, rammed earth, timber and electrical works

COLABORATION AGREEMENT

  • We have completed and opened the new toilets at the Keekorok airstrip;

  • We have completed the new market for bead ladies at the Keekorok airstrip;

  • We are now working on completing the new revenue office and visitor terminal;

  • We have connected water from a new borehole to the Keekorok airstrip complex. 

  • We rehabilitated railing surrounding the parking area at the Keekorok airstrip;

  • We have completed renovations to the Administrator’s house at Sekenani, together with installing a security fence around the house;

  • We have completed renovations to the Wardens’ offices at Sekenani.  This went well above budget as the Chief Park Warden kept insisting on additions;

  • We have re-roofed Talek Gate and have also repaired sections of the gate;

  • We repaired the approach to the Talek bridge, this was washed away in one of the storms, we also repaired a section of road between Sekenani and Talek;

  • We have completed the new ranger station at the Ngama Hills, we had difficulty in getting personnel to man the station;

The new road team are settling in and we have managed to repair the road from Keekorok to Talek and grade the main road from Sekenani to Mara Bridge.  However, we have real concerns about a looming fuel shortage.

Our Collaboration Agreement expires on the 30th June 2026.  We have written to the County Government expressing a willingness to extend the Agreement, subject to a few stipulated changes.

On top of the above work, we have continued to maintain all the County Road equipment, most of it is now operational.  12 tires were stolen from the store in Narok.

STAFF

Ms. Naomi Sapato was awarded an MBA (Master of Business Administration) in Strategic Management by the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).  Congratulations to her. 

We have received a draft of the amended Staff Handbook; this will be reviewed before presentation to the Board on the 10th April.

Mr. Charles Gitau will proceed on his Annual Leave in April.

WILDLIFE

We rescued two cheetah cubs that had lost their mother, unfortunately one was alarmed by hyena, tried to escape and died. 

A bull elephant was found dead on the 26th, it was being fed by lions and had been dead for a day or two when found. 

 TOURISM

Tourist numbers appear to have dropped drastically after an excellent February.  In February we had 6,087 non-resident adult visitors, up from 4,937 last year.  However, we fully expect fewer visitors than last year for March and the coming months.  The flooding has obviously impacted visitor number; there are days on end when the Triangle is inaccessible by road.  But the ongoing war in the Middle East has had a major impact. 

 SECURITY

The exceptional rains have made moving around very difficult, but our rangers managed to arrest three people on the 9th, near Maji ya Bett.  They had killed a warthog and reported that at least three hippos had been killed in the previous week.

One more poacher was arrested on the 11ᵗʰ, as he and three companions were hunting hippos.

 REVENUE & ACCOUNTS

Revenue in February was higher than for January, mainly as a result of Chinese visitors travelling to celebrate their New Year.  It was also higher than for the previous year (Ksh 89,900,294 this year compared with Ksh 70,099,015 in 2025).  However, we don’t expect much from the coming months, partly as a result of the flooding and exceptional rains, partly as a result of the war in the Middle East. 

We are looking at the possible consequences of reduced revenue and have already instituted a number of cost-cutting measures: reducing fuel consumption, cutting down on allowances, and only undertaking essential maintenance.  The problem is that there has been extensive damage caused by the flooding and there are some very expensive repairs that will be needed – the Sabaringo drift to the Kichwa airstrip being the most expensive.

REPORT ON FOCUS FOR MARCH 2026

The ongoing rains have severely damaged infrastructure.  The major damage has been caused to roads, bridges and culverts:

  • The drift over the Sabaringo, linking Oloololo to the Kichwa airstrip and Little Governors has been damaged beyond repair; 

  • The approaches to the bridge at Sankuria were nearly washed away and necessitated emergency repairs to keep the road open between Oloololo and Serena;

  • The lower Purungat bridge has been damaged and will probably require closure for two weeks after the rains have subsided;

  • Numerous culverts have been damaged and, in some cases, washed away;

  • Our gate house at Purungat was flooded twice and we have had to conduct extensive repairs;

  • The viewing platform at Hippo Pool was also slightly damaged and requires repair.

We have an Agreement with Mr. Andrew Aho of Grade A to complete the foundations for the Visitor Centre and are working on an Agreement for all concrete works and possibly oversee sub-contracts.

FOCUS FOR APRILL 2026

  • Hold Board meeting on 10th April;

  • Continue with road repairs;

  • Start on GSU housing at Oloololo;

  • Start on foundations for Visitor Centre; and

  • Repair Hippo Pool.

Work on Collaboration Agreement

  • Hold Planning meeting for the next quarter;

  • Work with County on a new Collaboration Agreement;

  • Complete new revenue office;

  • Complete visitor terminal at the Keekorok airstrip ;

  • Work on road to Ololamutia; and

  • Continue to maintain equipment.