Branding of Kenya National Parks Boosts KWS
The Kenya Wildlife Services upgraded and branded more facilities in western Kenya to boost its tourism sector.
Morris Dzoro, the tourism and wildlife minister, said branding national parks and other travel facilities has helped Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to increase its revenue, since they managed better. He added that wildlife management and the tourism policies were being crafted to create a friendly business environment.
Last year, KWS surpassed its Sh1.9 billion target for revenue, raking in Sh2.6 billion shillings after upgrading most of the facilities.
“The branding of our facilities is meant to provide a conducive environment to the staff in the fast changing and demanding global tourism industry,” said the minister during the branding of the Kakamega Forest National Reserve at Buyangu village, Ileho division, Kakamega south district.
It becomes the fourth facility to be branded in the region after Ruma, Saiwa Swamp and Mount Elgon. Infrastructure in Kakamega Forest National park has improved, and conservation measures are given priority. The attitude of the neibhouring community to wildlife have also improved tremendously since KWS has reached out to them and involved them in the project
Kenya Wildlife Services now plans to resolve the human-wildlife conflict in Kamnarok game reserve in Baringo Eastern district of the country by constructing electric fence, and moving the squatters living on trust land to another area.