Industrialization, Trade, Co-Operatives, Tourism & Wildlife Committee

Industrialization, Trade, Co-operatives, Tourism & Wildlife Committee

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

NYANDARUA COUNTY ASSEMBLY

______

1ST ASSEMBLY – SECOND SESSION – 2014

Lake Ol’ Bolossat

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIALIZATION,

TRADE, CO-OPERATIVES, TOURISM & WILDLIFE

THE STATUS OF TOURISM IN THE COUNTY

The Clerk’s Office

Nyandarua County Assembly

P.O. Box 720 – 20303

Ol Kalou OCTOBER, 2014

Table of Contents

ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS 4

PREFACE 5

Composition of the Committee 6

Points of reference for the Committee 6

Benchmarking Itinerary 7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 8

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 9

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 10

OVERVIEW 10

The objectives of the workshop 11

Workshop Expectations 11

Objectives of the Benchmarking Tour to Nyeri, Laikipia and Meru Counties 18

CURRENT LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK GOVERNING TOURISM AND WILDLIFE 20

The Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, 2013 20

CHAPTER TWO: FINDINGS & OBSERVATIONS FROM THE WORKSHOP AND BENCHMARKING TOUR 21

FINDINGS FROM THE WORKSHOP 21

THE BENCHMARKING TOUR 23

The Karuru Falls 23

Gura Giant Falls 24

Aberdare Fishing Lodge 25

Aberdare National Park HQ - Mweiga 27

The David Turunga Homestay Establishment 28

The Mount Kenya Guides and Porters Safari Club 30

The Mount Kenya National Park- Narumoru Gate 32

Mount Kenya Orphanage 34

The Old House Cottages 35

South Imenti- Meru Region Infrastructure 36

CHAPTER THREE: OBSERVATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE 38

CHAPTER FOUR: RECOMMENDATIONS 40

Recommendations from the Benchmarking Tour 40

Recommendations from the Workshop 42

Signages 44

CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION 45

CHAPTER SIX: BIBLIOGRAPHY 46

APPENDIX 1: CONTACTS 47

ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS

CEC - County Executive Committee

KICC - Kenyatta International Conference Center

KWS - Kenya Wildlife Service

ANP - Aberdare National Park

PA - Protected Area

KFS - Kenya Forest Service

Mt. - Mount

MKGPSC - Mount Kenya Guides and Porters Safari Club

KTB - Kenya Tourism Board

PREFACE

Mr. Speaker Sir, On Thursday, 17th July, 2014 - Sunday, 20th July, 2014 the committee on Industrialization, Trade, Co-operatives, Tourism & Wildlife set out to attend a workshop at the Kenyatta University Conference Centre to discuss and interrogate “THE ECO-TOURISM STRATEGY PAPER: NYANDARUA COUNTY” .

Further, the Committee set out on a benchmarking trip following a resolution by the Committee members after the workshop that it was indeed important to yardstick tourism in the county against that in the neighboring counties. In line with this resolution, the committee embarked on the benchmarking tour to Mt. Kenya region covering Nyeri, Meru and Laikipia Counties. This was carried out from 3rd - 6th September, 2014.

Further, the committee was represented by the Chairperson, Hon. Daniel Kibebo and Vice Chairperson, Hon. Tiziana Mwangi in the Tourism and Travel expo organized by the Kenya Tourism Board in KICC Nairobi, an event that attracts participation from both local and international trade partners as well as the Kenyan public.

This therefore is an inclusive and comprehensive report on the various activities undertaken by the Committee in a bid to realize the Tourism agenda in the county.

Pursuant to standing order 186 (5), the committee resolved to act as follows:-

i. investigate, inquire into, and report on all matters relating to the mandate, management, activities, administration, operations and estimates of the assigned departments;

ii. study, assess and analyse the relative success of the departments as measured by the results obtained as compared with its stated objectives;

iii. investigate and inquire into all matters relating to the assigned departments as they may deem necessary, and as may be referred to them by the Assembly;

iv. Based on the abovementioned, make informed decisions, recommendations, write and submit a committee report on the Bill incorporating the views of the public

Composition of the Committee

Mr. Speaker Sir, the committee on Industrialization, Trade, Co-operatives, Tourism & Wildlife comprises of the following Honorable Members of the County Assembly:

1. Hon. Daniel Kibebo - Chairperson

2. Hon. Tiziana Mwangi - V/Chairperson

3. Hon. Peter Githinji - Member

4. Hon. John Githinji - ”

5. Hon. David Ndirangu - ”

6. Hon. Jane Mwathe - ”

7. Hon. Paul Kiruka - ”

8. Hon. Peter Maina - ”

9. Hon. Joyce Ng’ang’a - “

Staff of the County Assembly

1. Aurelia Wanjiru - Committee Clerk

Points of reference for the Committee

Mr. Speaker Sir, the Committee interacted with various parties during the entire process including:

1. The then CEC Member for Industrialization, Trade, Co-operatives, Tourism & Wildlife, Madam Judy Mwangi

2. County Tourism Officers Mr. Shadrack Kanyugo, Mr. Robinson Njuki

3. Kenya Wildlife Service Officers, Mt. Kenya Senior Warden Mr. Simon Gitau, Mr. James Mathenge

4. Homestay Owners, Mr. David Turunga

5. Tourism related clubs example Mt. Kenya Guides and Porters Safari Club

6. Residents of Nyandarua County

7. Stakeholders in the Industry such as the Tour operators

8. And others

Benchmarking Itinerary

Mr. Speaker Sir, the Committee was guided by the following itinerary during the benchmarking tour.

DATE / TIME / ACTIVITY / SUB-ACTIVITY
3rd September / 8.00a.m / Leave Ol ‘Kalou town for Nyeri Town via the Aberdares National Park / Exploring the Aberdares and identifying the tourism potential it has to offer
4.00 p.m / Arrival at Mweiga, Park Headquarters / Brief by the officials
7.00 p.m / Arrival at Narumoru, David Turunga’s Homestay / Welcome by the Turunga’s and KWS Officers
Dinner
4th September / 8.00 a.m. / Leave David Turunga’s Homestay
10.00 a.m. / Visit to Mt. Kenya Guides and Porters Safari Club / Brief by the Club officials
2.00 p.m / Visit to Mt. Kenya National Park Headquarters / Brief by the Park Wardens including the Senior Warden, Mr. Simon Gitau
4.00 p.m. / Visit to the Mt. Kenya Orphanage / Brief by the officials
5th September / 8.00 a.m. / Leave David Turunga’s Homestay
2.00 p.m. / Visit to Meru Town and its environs

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Mr. Speaker Sir, I wish to thank the Offices of the Speaker and the Clerk of the Assembly for the support accorded to the Committee in ensuring that it delivers its mandate.

Further, the Committee wishes to recognize the invaluable input of various stakeholders in the Industry.

Mr. Speaker Sir, allow me also to salute the Members of the Committee and Staff of the Assembly for the commitment exhibited during the various events and activities carried out by the Committee which included participating in the workshop ,the benchmarking tour and the compiling of this report which was done from 16th – 19th October, 2014.

Finally, Mr. Speaker Sir, On behalf of the Members of the Committee and pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order No. 186(5) (g), it is my pleasure and duty to present to the House, the Committee’s Report on the status of Tourism in the County, for adoption.

SIGNED: ……………………………………………………..

HON. DANIEL RUARA KIBEBO, MCA

CHAIRPERSON, INDUSTRIALIZATION, TRADE, CO-OPERATIVES, TOURISM & WILDLIFE COMMITTEE

DATE:………………………………………………………

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Mr. Speaker Sir, the Nyandarua County Tourism development initiative is the mandate of the County Tourism Department. The respective Committee on Industrialization, Trade, Co-operatives, Tourism & Wildlife is mandated to investigate the tourism agenda in the county and make proposals to the CEC Member for Tourism regarding the implementation of timely and sound tourism projects.

Mr. Speaker Sir, in line with this, the Committee on Industrialization, Trade, Co-operatives, Tourism and Wildlife engaged with the Department of Tourism to understand the tourism agenda in the county by attending a two day workshop at Kenyatta University Conference Center on 18th-19th July 2014.

Strategically, the target areas were the Aberdare Ranges, Mount Kenya region diversity, and the South Imenti region. The choice destinations feature a unique blend of conventional and eco tourism, as well as large scale and small scale attractions. This unique blend of activities is important, as Nyandarua County is mainly an eco- tourism destination, and a county in which small-scale, home based tourism is the intended pivot in tourism development.

The Committee actively participated in the workshop as they gathered insight on the tourism potential of the county. Further, the members endeavored into the benchmarking tour, a learning experience that enabled them to learn from other counties.

The Committee then made their sound recommendations which are incorporated in this report and which honorable members, you will agree if implemented will see the face of Tourism in Nyandarua county transform and elevate to greater heights.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

OVERVIEW

The benchmarking trip conducted on 3rd- 6th September was aimed at helping the members compare the tourism sector situation in Nyandarua County with neighboring counties, with a specific goal of documenting the nature of ongoing tourist activities, the history of their establishment, their current state and way forward in development. Strategically, the target areas were the Aberdare Ranges, Mount Kenya region diversity, and the South Imenti region. The choice destinations feature a unique blend of conventional and eco tourism, as well as large scale and small scale attractions. This unique blend of activities is important, as Nyandarua County is mainly an eco- tourism destination, and a county in which small-scale, home based tourism is the intended pivot in tourism development.

Mr. Speaker Sir, there are several definitions of tourism. However, Tourism can simply be defined as “visiting a place and staying there for more than twenty four hours”. Tourism is not all about wildlife. History, culture, trade, man-made features are other components of Tourism. A good example being China which had 57.7 million international tourists in the year 2012 yet the country cannot boast of its wildlife. Instead, its major source of revenue in tourism comes from trade where millions of people visit China to import goods manufactured in the country for sale in other countries.

Despite the large tourism development potential and which is basically untapped, Nyandarua County has lagged behind due to lack of a tourism development strategy since Kenya’s independence.

In Kenya, Tourism is the 2nd largest source of foreign exchange revenue following agriculture and Nyandarua county has a lot to benefit from local tourism as it boosts of several tourist attraction sites as well as agri - tourism where vegetables, potato and dairy farming are the leading farming activities in the region.

A view of the Aberdares

The objectives of the workshop

Familiarize the county Assembly members with the current status of tourism and potential attractions within the County

Present the proposed County tourism and ecotourism strategy and seek inputs

To identify the key Tourism flagship for the county

Workshop Expectations

Participants to actively participate and contribute to the whole process.

Participants to positively critic and own the documents and product

Participants to be the champions of the identified key targets from the workshop.

Mr. Speaker Sir, the Ecotourism Strategy Paper for Nyandarua County was developed through a series of stakeholder workshops that brought together tourism sector players with an interest in the Aberdare Ecosystem and is a blueprint for developing ecotourism on the Western side of the Aberdare Ecosystem.

Nyandarua County covers an area of 3245.2 Km2 of which 250 Km2 is part of the Aberdare Protected Area. Nyandarua County cuts across the western side of the Aberdare Ecosystem, sharing boundaries with other Counties that is, Nakuru, Kiambu, Muranga, Nyeri and Laikipia Counties. The highest human settlements in Kenya are found in this county and these are Shamata and Geta Settlement schemes.

A key landmark in this county is Aberdare National Park and Forest Reserve where the county has the longest boundary (over 100Km) with the ecosystem compared to the other counties neighboring this ecosystem. Along the protected area boundary the county boasts of rivers, waterfalls, rocky peaks, enchanting forest sceneries and the only lake in the County, Lake Ol’bolossat. In addition, the County boasts of huge dams and other wetlands that attract ornithologists and bird shooting enthusiasts. The County has the potential of selling interesting features of Kenya’s colonial period namely the Mau-Mau hide outs and the Happy Valley Homes Network.

With the implementation of the Ecotourism Strategy, the Department of Tourism foresees the following benefits to the County:

§ Improved livelihoods to county residents due to job creation (direct and indirect opportunities).

§ Improved revenue generation capacity

§ Improved tourism infrastructure

§ Development of tourism accommodation facilities

§ Mobilization of communities to form porters and guides association

§ Clearly demarcated trails for hiking

§ Reclamation of wetlands and Expansion of Conservation areas

§ Enhanced environmental conservation through enforcement of environmental regulations and management

§ Stiffer penalties for poachers and illegal loggers

§ Improved socio-economic wellbeing of local communities

§ Enhanced linkages with the local and international community through tourism

§ Improvement of the County image.

§ Expansion of markets for locally produced products

Mr. Speaker Sir, the following are the tourist attraction sites in the county:

CA Ward / Constituency / Tourism Products and Facilities / Current Status /
Central Ward / Ndaragwa / -Game drives to the ANP (Its near Rhino Gate of Aberdare national Park)
-Accommodation (Lodge) Tafaria Castle Lodge
-Birding (ornithological safaris)
-Nature trails / -Game drives in Aberdare National Park operational