General
February was, for the most part dry and hot, with one or two storms at the very beginning of the month. This enabled us to burn one or two blocks in preparation for the rains in March/April.
M/s Void Studios presented the concept for the Visitor Centre at Oloololo to a group that included the Governor, senior members of the County tourism department and Board members on the 4th. The presentation was very well received and it was decided that a similar project be implemented at Sekenani Gate as well. We followed up the meeting in the Mara with a visit to the National Museum in Nairobi to get ideas for displays.
I met with the Governor on the 10th, to discuss the final budget for our Collaboration Agreement. We held a follow-up meeting on the 27th, at which the County proposed a completely new arrangement. One in which they insisted complied fully with the Law, but we felt would constrain our ability to work in the Main Reserve at the current level. This matter need to be resolved soonest. Until we get a clear way forward, we will slow down on proposed projects in the Main Reserve and possibly stop the purchase of fuel for roadworks outside the Reserve.
We hosted a team from Ol Pejeta Conservancy for three days, this was part of our staff exposure and exchange programme and reciprocated a visit we had to Ol Pejeta in 2024.
Collaboration Agreement
We have graded the road from Keekorok to Oloolomutia and resurfaced sections of the road to Mara Bridge. This road has been severely damaged by the hundreds of heavy trucks used in constructing the new lodge on Sand River. We then worked on the road from Mara Bridge to Talek via Look Out – this is one of the most heavily used roads in the Mara.
We repaired one tipper truck and returned it to the County, there is still one grader to be repaired.
We have serviced the Sand River windmill and borehole and will place a filtration system to remove solids and reduce salinity;
We serviced the Sekenani borehole and connected the solar pump to the water system.
Two County vehicles were severely damaged in accidents, one rolled back down a hill and bent the chassis and body. This has been repaired in Nairobi. The second one was washed away in a flash flood, the engine and drive train were damaged and this vehicle is currently under repair.
The Administrator in the Main Reserve wanted to cross check our systems in the workshop stores at Sekenani. This was the result of constant reports that we were not to be trusted in our spares purchasing. He was taken through the whole process of ordering, procurement and recording.
We are assisting the Main Reserve in managing the Conservation Centre and have deployed a Seiya employee, with a new vehicle, to oversee the running of this Centre.
Staff
All staff involved in revenue collection; from KAPS revenue staff, our Alpha Scouts and the County verifiers were trained by the Immigration Department on detecting fake documents and fraudulent claims of residency. This might help us tighten up on claims of residency and improve revenue – a number of people either use another person’s ID, or claim that their application for a work permit or residence are pending.
Mr A Kangethe and Ms S Terer have been invited to a conference on dog handling in South Africa.
Wildlife
A dead elephant was found near Kampi ya Mungu, it had been dead for several weeks. The tusks were recovered and weighed at 5.7 and 5.8 kg each.
We supported the rhino identification and ear notching exercise carried out by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the County.
A lioness was reported poisoned on the Oloisukut Conservancy, a hyena was also found dead. This follows on another poisoning incident in the Pololeti Game Reserve, just across the border from the Reserve near Osero Sopia, in which several lions and hyena were killed.
One lioness was found dead in the Triangle on the 25th, it appears to have been killed in a fight.
Tourism
We had an influx of Chinese tourists at the beginning of the month, coinciding with the Chinese New Year. Thereafter, tourist numbers dropped off and we can expect a quiet few months until June.
Security
A total of six poachers were arrested during the month, nearly all of them as a result of reports from Alex Walker, a camp owner in the Lemai Wedge.
A buffalo was reportedly killed in the Lemai Wedge by poachers on the 31st. Our teams went there but the poachers had butchered the animal and crossed the river.
In the first instance three people were arrested on the night of the 12th. They had killed a hippo. One of the people we arrested had eluded arrest in January, when two of his companions were caught. Morani, our tracker dog, was responsible for one of the arrests. The three begged us not to take them to Kenyangaga, as they talked of severe mistreatment by the rangers there. They were taken to Lolgorien.
One more poacher was arrested on the 20th by a combined team from TANAPA and the Mara Conservancy. He was part of a large gang that had killed a hippo. Two more were arrested on the 24th, they had wounded a hippo.
Revenue and Accounts
We are now operating on the low season rated for the Reserve, the non-resident rate for adults is now Us4 100, down from US$ 200 in high season.
Report on focus for February
We completed the viewing point at Hippo Pools.
We completed the simple toilet at Hippo Pools, this will be used by large school groups.
We replaced the roofing at the CE’s kitchen at Iseiya.
We spent time inserting new culverts on the flooded areas on the main road to Oloololo and then worked on the roads between Sankuria and Little Governors.
We have virtually completed the new housing at Purungat
We replaced some of our older signs with new ones.
Focus for March 2025
· Remove asbestos roofing at Iseiya and replace;
· Renovate Tourism Officer’s and Senior Warden’s houses;
· Work on the roads to Ngiro-are;
· Possibly burn another block;
· Complete new housing block at Purungat;
· Release and follow cheetah; and
· Install filtration plant at Mara Bridge.
Work on Collaboration Agreement
· Complete GSU camp at Angata;
· Grade roads;
· Install a filtration plant at Sand River;
· Continue with the modified house at Sand River;