BY YOANA KIMWELE.
On Sunday, April 30, 2023 – Kitui Deputy Governor HE Augustine Kanani hosted CS Penina Malonza in Kitui South.
Speaking during the visit, Deputy Governor Kanani said,
“Governor Dr. Julius Malombe’s Administration is committed to promoting wildlife conservation initiatives including the planned Kitui-Tana River border cutline touching Kitui South and Mwingi game reserves to curb encroachment into the two protected areas, and measures to assuage human-wildlife conflict and boost wildlife conservation and consequently local tourism”
DG was speaking at Mutha town and AIC Kanziko grounds both in Kitui South Sub County when he accompanied the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage Peninnah Malonza who was on a development tour in the Kitui South area.
CS Malonza said, as part of the planned interventions, her Ministry will sink boreholes to forestall cases of wildlife straying into human settlements in search of water or pasture.
The CS held a public engagement with residents of Mutha following incidences of Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in the area. she also officiated over distribution of relief food to families whose crops had been destroyed by elephants in the area.
“I have carefully listened to the concerns of the residents of Mutha. It is the responsibility of my ministry to ensure peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife” Malonza added.
The ministry through KWS is working with communities living close to national parks and reserves to prevent and manage human wildlife conflicts.
“I am willing and ready to fast track the MOU between the Ministry of Tourism And Wildlife – Kenya and the County Government of Kitui on offering necessary support to operationalise the South Kitui National Reserve”
“Making Community Conservancies work for local communities is part of the government’s transformation agenda. I encouraged residents of Mutha and Kitui County to embrace establishment of community conservancies as a way to not only mitigate HWC but also generate revenue to support development initiatives. Counties in the Northern Part of Kenya are doing it through Northern Rangelands Trust .Kitui County can do it as well” the further added.
“I want to assure you, on every friday my officers will be coming here at Mutha, to assess the extent of damage caused by stray elephants in order to inform compensation modalities for affected residents,” CS Malonza added.
Prominent and hard working Kitui South MP Hon Dr Rachel Nyamai said she will work with other leaders and the Government of the day for the sake of her electorates.
KWS Director General Erastus Kanga, Kitui Chief Officer for Tourism, Hospitality and Wildlife Ferdinand Kathenge, Mumoni Ward MCA Hon Kasinga who is also the Chairperson Tourism Committee and the Mutha Ward MCA Hon Mwamisi, accompanied the CS alongside County and National Government officers.
CGoK-Comm.Dept.
