Samburu, Isiolo county governments’ partner to flush out encroachers from National reserves

Samburu and Isiolo County Governments have reached a deal to flush out pastoralists and their livestock who have illegally encroached on various national reserves in a bid to protect wildlife areas.

According to leaders from the two counties, human activity has been on the rise along key reserves including Buffalo Springs, Shaba and Samburu national reserves posing a great risk to wildlife in the area.

The two devolved units further agreed to partner and conduct joint marketing both nationally and internationally to boost the number of tourists and revenue collection.

Led by Isiolo County Deputy Governor Abdi Issa, they bemoaned the ever increasing presence of thousands of livestock grazing illegally in the reserves together with armed herders that were scaring away tourists hence affecting revenue collected from the sector.

Speaking during a joint security and conservation management meeting which brought together tourism stakeholders, MCAs and security teams from the two counties together with conservation organizations aimed at deliberating on issues ailing the sector, the leaders cited charcoal burning, illegal settlements, poaching and sand harvesting and lack of support from local communities living around the reserves as part of challenges facing the sector and agreed to work together to address the issues.