Today, on behalf of Governor Kiraitu Murungi, Deputy Governor Titus Ntuchiu chaired the first meeting of the Meru Bongo and Rhino Conservation Trust which was held to deliberate on the progress of establishment of the Meru Bongo and Rhino Sanctuary. The project has attracted attention from far and wide and on 28th of this month, during the visit by the President of the United Nations General Assembly to Kenya, the Meru Bongo and Rhino Conservation Project has been picked to be presented as a way of showcasing community involvement in wildlife heritage conservation.
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DG Ntuchiu noted that when Governor Kiraitu set out to bring together partners who include Kenya Forest Service (KFS), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and the Meru County communities bordering the forest, he intended to make the project key to his vision of transforming Meru into a leading tourist destination and making the tourism sector a key contributor to the dream of Making Meru Great.

He said the success achieved so far, where the project is drawing accolades and recognition from the UN, is attributed to Governor Kiraitu’s determination to transform livelihoods of Meru people through tourism. The project will be repatriating the Bongo from Florida in the United States, which was indigenous to Mt. Kenya but has since become extinct.

Today’s meeting was attended by among others, John Njoroge, the Chief Conservator of Forests in Meru, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy CEO Mike Watson, and Meru County Minister for Tourism Maingi Mugambi.
#PromotingTourism
#TransformingMeru
#MakingMeruGreat

In his fourth promise in his manifesto Governor Kiraitu Murungi promised to develop a world class tourism in the County.

In this regard the County has agreed to a momerundum of understanding with Kenya Forestry Services , in which they have approved the county to establish the first Golf course in Meru, an arboretum and boosting environmental conservation work in the Imenti Forest.

In the meeting attended by KFS Chairman, Peter Kinyua and C.E.O Rhino Ark, Mr.Christian Lambrects, Mugambi Maingi- CECM Trade and Tourism said the county will be seeking partnerships that will see expansion of tourism infrastructure in the vast mt.Kenya Forest among them expansion of the existing tourism routes and building of tourist cabins there.

According to Mr. kinyua, KFS will be working on a sustainable way of building synergy in which the public can benefit from the forest and ensure conservation efforts of the forest is maintained.

Governor Kiraitu Murungi promised to promote tourism by opening up high potential tourist attractions in Meru to develop a world class tourism in the County as a key contributor to the vision of Making Meru Great. Pursuant to this promise the County Government has today in a function presided over by Deputy Governor Hon. Titus Ntuchiu on behalf of the Governor, officially launched the historical Meru Mountain Bongo and Black Rhino Sanctuary which will be established at Mucheene Forest in Mt. Kenya.

Hon. Ntuchiu noted that there are only between 20-25 Mountain Bongo in Kenya which are already endangered with their population dwindling rapidly. The County Government aims to bring and reintroduce about 20 more from the USA State of Florida where they were taken many years ago before they disappeared from Mt. Kenya, by a well-wisher who has been working closely with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to breed them. The sanctuary will act as a key factor to increase number of tourists visiting Meru County, he added.

“Under the leadership of Governor Kiraitu, we are working on various other approaches to grow tourism in the County. We have opened up motorable roads to access the beautiful lakes like Lake Ellis(14,000 ft. a.s.l.) and Lake Rutundu, as well as various other beautiful sites on Mt. Kenya. Last year we held a successful first ever mountain run(Meru Mt. Kenya Run 2020) at the Kenya School of Adventure and Leadership (KESAL) Ntirimiti, where part of the proceeds went into funding the establishment of the sanctuary as well as opening of Meru Cancer Center,” said the Deputy Governor.

He added that Governor Kiraitu’s administration is also developing conference facilities, picnic and camping sites and other amenities to boost tourism in Meru National Park and Iombe Lake in Nyambene region as well as Lake Nkunga Recreational site.

The event was attended by partners in the project who include conservationists (Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Mt. Kenya Trust and the Community) and National Government agencies (Kenya Wildlife Service-KWS- and Kenya Forest Service-KFS).
#ImprovingTourism
#TransformingMeru
#MakingMeruGreat