General
There were a few scattered storms early in the month, sufficient to send the wildebeest back into the Serengeti - by the 15th there was hardly a wildebeest in the Mara. The rains then started in earnest around the 14th for a week, before drying out again, We can now expect two months of fairly heavy rain.
The Board sat on the 11th in the Mara and approved the Audited accounts from Deloitte. They also approved the purchase of two new Toyota Land Cruisers for the Main Reserve and a CAT grader, to help in maintaining the roads in the Main Reserve.
Collaboration Agreement
The Board approved the draft Deed of Variation to the Collaboration Agreement, essentially allowing us to increase expenditure in the Main Reserve. They also recommended a 10% Administration fee to cover all the extra work undertaken on behalf of the County. However, the County Government is still to ratify the Agreement.
The Governor launched a number of completed projects on the 25th and 26th, these included:
· The ranger post at Enombuai, we had completely redesigned and built the post there, providing water and solar power. We also smartened the gate house;
· Providing water to the Oloigero Primary School, we drilled and equipped a borehole for the school and local community;
· Rebuilding the Talek bridge at Mara Simba. We paid for the work done by Grade A;
· Grading the new road that directly links Sekenani with Talek. This has already significantly reduced the traffic through the Reserve;
· Providing water to Sekenani. We drilled and equipped a borehole, including erecting a large water tank;
· Construction of new staff housing at Keekorok. We built 13 new self-contained rooms and provided solar power;
· We also improved housing for the ladies selling beads at the Keekorok airstrip; provided them with power and toilet facilities.
The Governor also used the opportunity to launch the recently renovated Research Centre -renovated by the Kenya Wildlife Research and Training Institute (KWRTI); and the Masai Mara Control Centre, constructed by the Safari Collection. We provided water and radio communication.
We have managed to repair all the roads in the Main Reserve, installing culverts where necessary and filling in most of the potholes. We managed to grade some of the major roads but the volume of traffic makes them very difficult to maintain to a high standard.
We have installed three speed cameras to try and reduce excessive speed and protect the roads.
We had to re-drill the borehole for the GSU at Angata, the original yield was too low. We were also asked to drill a borehole for the maternity clinic at Angata - this has been done.
We have ordered uni-huts for the GSU camp at Angata, they will be delivered in early November and we should start work there by mid-November.
Staff
Dr A Takita spent time with the KWS Capture Unit, translocating 54 elephant from Mwea into the Aberdares. We also sent five rangers to learn about capture and the handling of animals - unfortunately two of the rangers were considered unsuitable - lazy and unwilling to learn. Both have been disciplined.
The Staff held their Annual General Meeting for their Welfare Committee on the 12th.
We have agreed on a four-day exchange visit to Ol Pejeta in Laikipia. We used our staff appraisals to select the best performing staff from each sector, a total of 30, for those going on the visit. Ol Pejeta will then send a team to us in the Triangle.
Ranger Mpilei was badly injured by a hippo 24th whilst on patrol along the BBC lugga in the Triangle on the 24th. He was caught between the hippo and water. The Governor kindly lent a helicopter to transfer the ranger to Tenwek Hospital.
The new medical scheme to replace NHIF is being rolled out and our staff were trained on registration on the 24th. There has been a lot of controversy over this scheme and currently Kenyans can neither get support from NHIF, or from the new Scheme.
Dogs
Our detection dog at Oloololo station gave birth to 4 puppies on October 29th. One died, and three are thriving.
Wildlife
The wildebeest had nearly all gone by the 15th, with one or two very small herds remaining. However, the zebra remained in large numbers until the 18th, a few then remained throughout the month. We continue to see less impressive migrations each year. This year was slightly better than last year - the wildebeest remained three weeks longer. But, the vast herds are no longer coming into the Mara and they are not staying until November, as they used to.
At least five hippo died near Mara Bridge during the month, there was no apparent cause of death although all the deaths were recorded in a very small area just upstream of the bridge.
An elephant treated by Dr Njoroge for an arrow wound on the18th.
Tourism
Non-resident tourist numbers dropped from 13,286 in September 2023 to 9,760 in September this year - a 37% drop. This has been the trend throughout the high season. There is no doubt that tourist numbers have been more manageable and that there have been fewer complaints of harassment and crowding at sightings. Not only did the drop in tourist numbers help, but more effort was put into controlling numbers and behaviour at key sightings.
Security
The Iseiya rangers set an ambush along the Tanzania border on the 13th and 14th and managed to arrest three people at 11.00 pm near Konyoike. The three were part of a gang of five who were on their way to set snares and were carrying 15 snares. Morani, one of the dogs was responsible for one person’s arrest - he followed the tracks for several hundred meters before locating the poacher. The following day another 14 snares were recovered in the same area.
One person was arrested from a large group which had killed a buffalo at Konyioke, on the Tanzanian border. He was arrested as he, and his companions were carrying the meat home at 10.00 pm.
Revenue and Accounts
The Audited accounts were approved by the Board and signed by the Chairman and Mr S Seiyo.
The key points in the accounts were:
· They were unqualified;
· Park Fees has increased from Ksh 361,801,493 in 2022/23 to Ksh 437,291,436 in 2023/24;
· Overall income had increased from Ksh 439,118,696 in 2022/23 to Ksh 573,885,742 in 2023/24;
· Expenditure had increased from Ksh 336,858,323 in 2022/23 to Ksh 513,371,982 in 2023/24.
It was noted that the major increases in expenditure related to staff costs, repairs and maintenance (expensing construction and development), and foreign exchanges losses brought about by a strengthening shilling.
Overall comprehensive income for the year amounted to Ksh 41,811,846. This was less than the previous year and explained by the purchase of vehicles and equipment, construction and water costs.
It was noted that taxation will reduce from Khs 36,614,243 to Ksh 18,701,914 in the current year.
Report on focus for October
We have started constructing six new staff houses at Iseiya, they should be complete by year’s end.
Construction of the public toilets at Hippo Pools is going well and they should be complete by Christmas.
We worked on the lower road to Purungat near Oloololo. We continued with surfacing the new roads along the border whenever possible. However, we were hampered by the rains.
Focus for November
· Continue with toilets at Hippo Pool;
· Continue with new housing;
· Work on roads whenever possible;
· Exchange visit to Ol Pejeta;
· Purchase a new CAT grader;
· Equip borehole at Ngiro-are.
Work on Collaboration Agreement
· Install pump and water at the Angata Maternity Hospital;
· Start on the uni-huts for the GSU at Angata;
· Receive two new Land Cruisers for the Main Reserve;
· Maintain roads; and
· Repair one New Holland grader.