Mara Ngenche hotel, the camp at the Maasai Mara ecosystem standing on the corridors of wildebeest migratory path has been shut down.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Chairman John Konchella said the camp had violated the standards set for the world-famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve.
Speaking during an assessment tour in the camp, Konchellah regretted that the camp worth over Sh300 million was established in the year 2008, and had been slowly expanding hence blocking the path of the stunning wildebeest crossing.
“The camp started with few camps and has since expanded blocking the path of the animals. We should give the animals the first priority,” said the chairman.
At least four tents had been erected on the path of the animals flouting NEMA rules.
“We will be looking on to whether to relocate the camp in full or part of it before making a full report on this,” said Konchella.
The camp director, Nagib Popat, however, said he has placed a court order to bar the closure of the camp alleging to have met all the criteria required for its establishment.
Narok Executive Member in Charge of Tourism Joseph Koila said that the welfare of the animals at the world-famous game reserve comes first and promised that the county government will do anything possible to protect the animals in their natural habitat.
“This is a problem we inherited from the defunct county council that we are trying to fix now. We are however committed to ensuring we give the animals the best,” said Ole Koila.
Wildebeest migration occurs between the month of July and September where millions of wildebeests migrate from Serengeti Park in Tanzania to the Kenyan side across River Mara.
A clip that went viral showed an incident that occurred on 14th August this year where wildebeest movement was interrupted by the camp that stands at the meeting point of River Talek and River Mara went viral over social media.
This resulted in Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala asking the county government to close the camp.
