Hell Gate's Devil's Kitchen to be closed during El Nino rains

Popularly known as the "Devil's Kitchen", the gorge has offered local and international tourists a scenic view of some of the natural wonders of the world.

The move follows several fatal incidents in which tourists' lives have been lost after flash floods swept through the gorge.

In 2019, seven Indian nationals died after heavy and devastating flash floods swept through the gorge, prompting KWS to close the site pending investigations.

KWS Senior Warden for Hell's Gate National Park Nelson Cheruiyot said the gorge would remain closed throughout the El Niño season as a precaution to minimise casualties.

Addressing the press in Naivasha, Cheruiyot said the agency had introduced pocket-friendly packages for local tourists visiting the park during the festive season.

He said Hell's Gate continues to register growing demand from local and international tourists because of its unique attractions and wildlife. Visitors, he added, can enjoy bird watching, hiking and camping amid the scenery of the gorge and its surroundings.

"We continue to register growing numbers of local and international tourists visiting Hell's Gate National Park as a result of our diverse attractions, including the gorge, bird watching and the geothermal spa," said Cheruiyot.

At the same time, the wildlife body said it is working with stakeholders to address rising cases of hippo attacks around Lake Naivasha.

KWS attributed this to a rise in water levels, which has flooded pasture land, pushing the wild animals into nearby estates and farms.

This emerged during the launch of a holiday package for local tourists to Hellsgate park in Naivasha during the festive season

He said KWS was working with the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife to address emerging human-wildlife conflict along the lakeshore, including hippo attacks near Lake Naivasha.

KWS Marketing and Development Officer Sammy Towett launched the "Nature Ndio Form" campaign as a rallying call to attract local tourists to the park.

Towett said the agency had introduced affordable festive-season packages and was planning to welcome more than 700,000 local visitors.

He said tourists would see a wide range of wildlife, adding that KWS had introduced a sustainability agenda to ensure the park continues to serve its purpose.

Rafael Waweru, a director at the National Chamber of Commerce who lives with a disability, said KWS had ensured that people with special needs could access its facilities free of charge.

Waweru commended KWS for entrenching inclusivity, noting that members of disability forums could attend the agency's various forums with ease.