Embu County to take over management of Mwea National Game Reserve

Embu County Government has begun the process of taking over the management and conservation of Mwea National Game Reserve from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) to sustain it for the next 10 years.

The dormant and unrecognized game reserve is located in Mbeere South Constituency and has been in existence for over four decades.

It is home to a significant number of animals like elephants, zebras, buffaloes, gazelles and the rare Rothschild giraffe.

Speaking during the launch of the planning committee selected to oversee the takeover procedure of the reserve, Embu County Deputy Governor Kinyua Mugo said that once the reserve has resumed its operations as a tourist attraction site, it will be a good source of revenue, employment and income for locals and investors.

He added that the committee would market and ensure that investors establish lodges and hotels that will accommodate both foreign and local tourists.

“We will be doing capacity building and if everything goes per plan then within 5-10 years we hand over the management of this reserve to the county so that KWS only maintains wildlife security role within the reserve otherwise everything else will be done by the government,” said KWS Senior Assistant Director Mwangumi Bakari.

Mbeere South Area MP Nebart Muriuki who attended the event also applauded the county’s step to salvaging and reviving of the reserve saying that it will be an asset in economic growth to the local community and the country as a whole.