This archive report was first published on 13 September 2019.
Published on September 13, 2019, a group of over 400 members of Naboisho wildlife conservancy in the Masai Mara disrupted tourism activities after invading the 60,000-acre protected area.
The members, led by Peter Naurori, were protesting what they termed measly dividends from the tourism investments. They claimed that the dividend payout was low despite the 11 luxury camps in the conservancy making huge profits.
According to the members, an owner of about 150 acres received Sh22,000 as dividend per month, which they said was meagre and exploitative. They also wanted a short period lease agreement with investors as opposed to the current 25-year one.
Sanjin ole Kereto, a land owner, said they would revert to their pastoralism activities and crop farming should the management continue oppressing them. “We were expecting to be paid at least Sh60,000 per month from the conservation, but what we are getting is not worth our land. It is sad to see that the camps that are in this conservancy are always fully booked, yet we, the community, are not feeling it,” he said.
James Nkoitoi, another land owner, said he chose to fence off 100 acres of his land and reared sheep and beef cattle, raking in more profits compared to what he was getting from the 150 acres he gave out for conservation. “After I fattened some bulls in my fenced land, I got Sh246,000 within 10 months. So should the management continue oppressing us, we shall find ways of utilising our lands to earn more money,” he said.
By the time of going to the press, the enraged members had not removed the hundreds of sheep driven into the conservation area in protest over the alleged poor pay.
