Investors in the Masai Mara National Reserve are urging the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate private companies handling rent payments on behalf of the Narok County government. This comes in response to new directives from the county government, leading to concerns about enriching a few individuals through a well-organized scheme. Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina is also pushing for transparency, requesting the county government to provide a list of all lodges and camps in the greater Maasai Mara and the Mara Triangle, along with their locations and accommodation capacities.
Under the new lease terms imposed by the county government, investors are required to sign 32-year leases, raising questions about ground fees and bed-night payments. It has been revealed that property owners are making rent payments to private companies instead of the county government accounts, further fueling suspicions of irregularities. Only 10% of the monies collected are directly deposited into the county government’s accounts, leading to concerns about the beneficiaries of the remaining 90%. The leasing arrangement involves middlemen and briefcase companies, reportedly collecting millions in bed-night fees and other levies.
Narok Senator Ole Kina is calling for an investigation into the lease agreements, including the terms, beneficiaries, and revenue streams. Hoteliers in the region have raised concerns about the lack of involvement of key stakeholders and the absence of public participation in the decision-making process. The Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC) and the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) have expressed worries about the potential negative impacts on businesses and tourism in the Maasai Mara.
Efforts to reach Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu for comments have been unsuccessful, and tourism stakeholders warn that the Maasai Mara may lose tourists to Tanzania’s Serengeti due to changes in park fee terms. Tourists visiting the Maasai Mara now face increased park entry fees, and stakeholders have moved to court to protest these changes. The situation raises concerns about the competitiveness of the Maasai Mara compared to other destinations.
