eco-lodges

Kenya Forest Service(KFS) yesterday launched an ambitious plan to transform fifteen of its former staff houses into guest houses and identified another 38 locations within forests suitable for establishment of eco-lodges.

In a public announcement appearing in the press, KFS director David Mbugua said that the move was intended to increase the much needed bed capacity in the country as tourism numbers continue to sour day by day.

KFS invited interested investors to express their interest and specifically detail how they intend to develop the facility to ensure that it is nature based and that each investor states specific ventures that will benefit communities neighbouring the forests.

Out of the facilities identified, 9 are within Aberdare ecosystem that has a 400kilometre electric elephant fence commissioned by Forestry and Wildlife Minister Dr Noah Wekesa last Friday.

Mr Mbugua said that the move would ensure forests across the country were utilized in a sustainable manner and were economically beneficial to local people.

“Having noted that eco-tourism is the fastest growing industry, KFS We have identified prime and pristine eco-tourism sites throughout the country that needs to be developed into world class responsible and sustainable eco-tourism facilities,” said the director.

Intetrestingly, two eco-lodges have been po\rporosed for development at the controversial South and North Marmanet forests where squatters are yet to heed notices and vacate but none has been identified in the expansive Mau forest complex.

In the Aberdare ecosystem, eight sites have been identified among them, Geta(Kipipiri), Ndaragwa(Nyandarua North), Kiandongoro(Nyeri), Hombe(Nyeri), Wanjerere(Murang’a), Kereita(Kiambu) and Uplands(Kiambu) and Kiamakia in Thika district.

Two sites have been identified in Karura forest where a tented camp and a sports facility have been lanned while three facilities in Eastern conservancy have been earmarked at Chungu river eco-lodge(Chuka forest), Chogoria forest eco-lodge and Irangi eco-lodge.

In the coast region eight sites have been identified among them the world famous Arabuko Sokoke forest where residents have teamed up with KFS to establish bandas, Mtwapa eco-lodge(former customs offices), Island eco-lodge(Funzi island) eco-lodges at Buda forest, Kwale, Mtwapa, Ziwala Witu, Kilifi and at Ngangao forest in taita Taveta.

In Kakamega forest, an eco-lodge has been planned at Karunya Glade and a guest house is to be developed in a different part of the forest.

Fifteen guest houses have also been proposed in indigenous forests at Koibatek’s Chemususu,Lake Kenyatta in lamu, Nzaui in Makueni, Turbo forest in Uasin Gishu, Uplands(Kiambu), Lamu(DFO’s office), Muringato(Nyeri) North Kinangop, Hombe/State lodge(Nyeri) and Njukiini in Kirinyaga district.

Mr Mbugua said that this was aimed at encouraging investors to invest in non-wood extractives thereby enabling residents to benefit from forests within their regions once they start operations and provide employment and market for their fresh produce and other services.

KFS gave investors three weeks to express their interest inn developing the facilities and sites adding that design concepts, marketing promotions, past history of the interested companies should stress the need for help protect the forest, environment and support conservation.