Kenya targets to unlock Northern Counties for domestic tourism

The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has launched a campaign targeting destinations including Samburu, Marsabit and Turkana counties, promoting the region’s wildlife, culture and adventure experiences to Kenyan citizens.

Speaking during the campaign, the Director of the Samburu National Reserve, Tom Lesarge, said the reserve accounts for about 85 percent of the county’s own-source revenue, while community conservancies are also benefiting from tourism.

Lesarge added that the campaign will help expose tour operators to attraction sites in northern Kenya, including wildlife, vibrant cultures and adventure activities such as hiking, rock climbing and paragliding.

“Northern Kenya was a land forgotten during the colonial days. But of course, it's opening up. Tourism is a key aspect in northern Kenya. We have vibrant cultures and significant wildlife populations,” said Lesarge.

June Chepkemei, the CEO of Kenya Tourism Board, said the campaign aims to convert tourism awareness into actual bookings, with the board working closely with county governments and tour operators.

‘’We are hoping that this campaign will support our desire to grow our domestic tourists from the current 5.1 million to about 7.6 million going into the financial year 2027-2028, and there is no better way than to expose the gems that we have in the Northern Circuit,’’ said Chepkemei.

Guyo Ali Adano, the chief officer for tourism, Marsabit County, noted that the county is also strengthening its gems and cultural diversity as part of the northern tourism experience.

Among the attraction sites in focus are the  Chalbi Desert, Lake Turkana, forests, wildlife and archaeological sites, including Ileret, which is linked to early human history.

Tour operators have pledged to drive efforts towards unlocking more tourist visits, promising to attract more domestic and international visitors to the region.

Raymond Cheruiyot, Chairperson of the Tour Operators Society of Kenya (TOSK), urged Kenyans to embrace domestic tourism, describing the Chalbi Desert as a unique and more affordable alternative to travelling to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The Kenya Tourism Board says improved road networks and air access to the northern parts of  Kenya is helping make the destinations more accessible, calling on Kenyans to embrace more domestic tourism.