Kenya conservation news – Masai herders drive cattle into the Mara incited by rogue politicians

ROWDY POLITICIANS INCITE MASAI HERDERS TO INVADE THE MASAI MARA
This is criminal incitement and government should arrest those responsible immediately, regardless of their status or connections said a regular source from Nairobi yesterday afternoon when discussing reports that Masai herdsmen had driven hundreds if not more cattle into the game reserve. The Ministry of Tourism investigated claims that the contract to introduce e-money through Smart Cards at the gates to the Masai Mara was corrupt. They found that procedures had been followed and in any case, this is the same system KWS use in other parks and it works. Vandalising the gates is a crime and stopping tourists from getting in and out of the reserve is simply stupidity of the highest order. We all make a living from tourism and it was high time that the leakages of cash from the gates was brought under control. Those herdsmen are misguided by politicians who really have no scruples at all to use them after feeding them false information. Some might get injured or even shot if they start opposing the security forces government has now moved to the Mara to safeguard tourism. It is two local MPs in particular, Ole Lankas and Gideon Konchellah who should answer what interest they have in preventing the use of Smart Cards for payment and how they are involved in inciting mobs before worse happens.
It is understood that hundreds of extra personnel have been moved to beef up security in and around the Masai Mara and prevent further incidents, similar to the ones reported here in mid December.
At the stroke of midnight 01st of January 2012 did also come the new fee structures into place with wagenis, aka foreign tourists now paying 80 US Dollars per person per day, up almost a third compared to previous charges, for the prime parks as published by Kenya Wildlife Service. Watch this space.

2 Responses

  1. THE EQUITY BANK SCANDAL OF LENANA PROPORTIONS

    Equity Bank Vs Narok County Council E-Ticketing Scandal

    1. The Tendering procedure was flowed – The newspaper advert date does not tally, and it does not exist. Meaning, favoritism.
    2. The E-ticketing system is basically an IT matter. Equity Bank is not an IT company. They will have to subcontract an IT company of which County Council could have done it directly saving the Kingdom of the Maasai millions of shillings. Money that could have gone towards new universities, new schools, etc.
    3. There were other potential bidders, E.g Kenya Coop bank that was offering 2.5 % negotiable commission. Equity Bank is charging 7%. This is in contravention of the procurement act which says the commission cannot go beyond 5%
    4. Equity Bank will be receiving free money in US$. Free deposits in dollars. Meaning free cash flow to the bank. Money that ends up circulating in form of loans to their customers. It is therefore in order for Equity Bank to charge 0% commission and still make a killing.
    5. Equity bank has pegged the payment to a fixed dollar rate of Ksh 70.00. The dollar stands at Ksh 95 right now. That’s almost 30% free money to equity. 30% + 7% = 37%. Consider that the shilling continues to depreciate in value, so who knows, Equity could be making over 50 % profits from the Kingdom of the Maasai Resources.
    6. The Escrow account: All monies from tourists will go to an escrow account controlled by Equity. NCC will not have access to this information.
    7. Equity Bank will be giving Monthly statements. With all the technology involved, the statements should be live 24hrs.
    8. Equity shall deduct all their expenses first before remitting the balance crumbs to NCC. There will be no knowing what the nature of expenditure is.
    9. Narok County Council will not / may not know how many collection points are there, leaving room for loopholes in the system.
    10. The Contract states that any Maasai who is knowledgeable in accounts, or has worked in the banking sector cannot work anywhere near the system for a period of 12 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What are they hiding?
    11. It is alleged from insider sources that Equity Bank spent over Ksh 4 Million to bribe some Councilors in Narok County Council. Some were even sponsored to fly overseas. When asked, the councilors went on official duties. The majority are illiterates. Official duty indeed.
    12. Why the secrecy? Attempts to get the contract have proved futile. They have defied the KACC, they have defied the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA). We have tried taking them to court. We a considering the Considering alternative.
    13. Who else is involved? What are the higher forces behind this? Our M.P. is dilly-dallying on the issue, claiming he is not aware of the deal. Based on his track record, do you believe him?.
    14. What is the role of the GEMA connection in this deal?
    15. Already, we are losing control of the Mara. Keekorok is now owned by Pattni, he of the Goldenberg scandal.
    16. The Gema is fighting for control of the Mara, thus perpetuating the Colonization of the Maasai Community.
    17. Its for that reason that the Kingdom of the Maasai should come out strongly and condemn in the strongest possible terms the Equity /NCC deal.
    18. The Congress needs funding to take the perpetrators to court.
    19. The deal ties the Governors hands because it goes for 10 years!!!!!! Two whole terms!!!!!!!!!!.
    20. MULIKA MWIZI!!!
    5 minutes ago · Like
    Maren Swakei ?21 According to the alleged CFP, Equity was not supposed to collect the fees, but they are doing it, abd in a recent parliamentary select Committee hearing, James Mwangi the CEO denied that they are collecting, a broad daylight lie. CLOSE DOWN THE MARA.

  2. S T O P MAASAI MARA TOURISM
    MASAI MARA – KENYA’S CORRUPTION DEN
    MAASAI MARA, WHERE THE COMMUNITY ARE THE HUNTED
    BY HUMAN LIONS AND HYENAS

    This open letter has been sent to as many people and organizations and tour and travel companies around the world.
    Help spread it.
    And this is why.
    Stop the Maasai Mara game drives,
    The lions territory where the lions share of your hard earned entrance fees goes to individual pockets of corrupt officials and corrupt leaders.

    Stop The Maasai Mara tourism circuit immediately
    The famous Keekorok Lodge was acquired through corrupt dealings by the Worlds most corrupt individual, Kamlesh Pattni He of the Goldenberg scandal.
    A man, who together with The Most corrupt president that Africa has ever had, Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi fleeced the government of Kenya.
    The top echelon officials of Moi regime were also in the forefront of the grand corruption. These officials are still in the current administration. It is estimated that Ksh 60 Billion, 10% of Kenya’s annual budget was squandered.
    Please google out Goldenberg scandal for more on the structure of the corruption mountain, the berg.

    Kamlesh Pattni is now born again, saved, he goes around the country preaching the gospel. The bible on one hand, but with his eyes firmly glued to the price.
    The opportunity for another corrupt dealing.
    He wants to fool the gullible Kenyans.
    Do not insult our intelligence.
    The thought of you makes our stomachs churn.

    Stop the Maasai Mara circuit.
    The entrance collection point is manual rather than digital despite available technology to corrupt the fees. The officials have for many years rejected the idea of electronic payments at the gates. The reason is easy, to squander as much money as possible.
    They have been told numerous times to go digital but they have refused.
    Digital ya kazi gani? (“Digital for what?”, so they retort)

    Stop the Maasai Mara Tourism circuit.
    Where your entrance is paid electronically to a corrupt Indian firm called SOMAK.
    Who together with others own over 150 acres of prime property on the Maasai Mara.
    The corrupt aficionados have embarked on grabbing more lands and putting up lodges everywhere.
    Soon The Maasai Mara will be a city of lodges.
    And you suppose the animals love lodges?
    Come on, give me a break!

    Stop the Maasai Mara tourism.
    Its not the serene and tranquil place you see on your TV.
    There is an ugly side to it.
    The community lives on abject poverty.
    It’s a community of about a million individuals who live on less that half a dollar a day.
    Yet it is estimated that every day, Ksh 100, 000, 000 (100 Million) is lost to private hands every day. You do the maths, this money is enough to make every member of the Community a millionaire on a daily basis!!!!!!

    Stop the Maasai Mara tourism
    The community suffers from “Mangodepsys” syndrome.
    It means The Maasai NGO dependency syndrome.
    Due to the communities “abject poverty” it has become a haven for NGO’s around the world to come and hand out pens, hats, toys, sweets, cheap schools, cheap boreholes,
    Cheap relief food, medication etc.
    But alas, these NGOs are as corrupt as anything.
    The lions share go towards buying their 4X4s and living in palatial homes.

    Stop the Maasai Mara Tourism.
    For a world class tourist attraction, the so called World Heritage site,
    The roads leading to it are the worst in the world.
    The Narok County council leaders are the most corrupt.
    Narok County council is considered the richest in Kenya,
    But all the money lands on potbellied brucellosis suffering leaders.
    Brucellosis is a lifestyle condition caused by eating too much meat and beer.

    To the international community
    Your continued visits to Maasai Mara amounts to supporting impunity.
    It amounts to impoverishing the community.
    Make a stand.
    Stop the madness.

    Demonstrations are being planned across the entire
    Maasai Mara by the impoverished communities.
    They can no longer sit down and watch as their resources are raped, pillaged and plundered.
    They have had enough!
    We have had enough!

    Please join us.
    Share this information with your friends.
    Let this be a worldwide cry.
    Once the community is satisfied that all is okay,
    You will be notified.

    In 2012, Kenya will have elections under the new constitution.
    There is now a scramble for campaign money.
    The leaders are now in high gear on corruption.
    Do you realize how easy and gullible the community is?
    You money will be used to buy votes from the mostly illiterate community.
    Make this an international cry.

    This is the Maasai’s last resort and chance at self -determination.
    Read about the Maasai Fake land agreements.
    See how the community has been pushed to a corner.
    The Community is now fighting back.

    Read about who owns Kenya and see how 4 families owns almost the entire remnants of Maasai land most of it in the Maasai Mara, the place you love so much.
    Its not as romantic as you think.
    Behind the beautiful landscape
    Behind the beautiful sunsets and sunrises,
    Lies another struggle
    The struggle of the communities.
    They are the hunted.
    The lions and hyenas are the corrupt leaders and officials.
    And they go for the jugular vein of the weakest and most vulnerable.

    We are working on a strategic plan called the “MAASBEE”
    The Maasai Broad based Economic Empowerment.
    It encompasses other marginalized communities hence broad based.
    This will only take effect upon the new dispensation of 2012.
    The MAASBEE will be the new buzzword in the Kingdom of the Maasai.
    It will give hope and empowerment to the people.
    We will inform you how you can take part in the MAASBEE.
    For now, just stop the madness in Maasai Mara, will you?

    If you support human rights, and we know you do,

    Effective March 2011
    We the community have reached the end of our tethers.
    You visit for now leaves a bad taste in our mouths.

    YOU ARE JUST NOT WELCOME ANYMORE

    For now of course.

    SORRY ABOUT THAT, but you do understand don’t you?

    —–

    So, they eventually went digital, but alas, with it came an even bigger scandal. James Mwangi of Equity Bank decided that he too must dip his fingers in the honey jar, or shall we say THE BEE HIVE? And the Community said enough is enough. What followed thereafter were a 3 day demos at the Mara. There is the mother of all demos planned for early next year. IT TAKES ONE ATOM TO MOVE THE UNIVERSE….WATCH THIS SPACE.