Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime has thrown his support behind the multi-million shilling Tsavo West National Park rhino sanctuary fence project, while issuing a stern demand for local economic inclusion.
The mega-conservation project, recently launched by President William Ruto, aims to protect the endangered black rhino and mitigate long-standing human-wildlife conflict.
Governor Mwadime noted that the sanctuary is poised to boost the regional hospitality sector, spur the development of luxury lodges, and expand the county’s revenue base through tourism taxes.
However, the Governor strongly criticized local tourism and conservation stakeholders for sidelining residents. He warned hotel and lodge managers within the Tsavo ecosystem to prioritize locals for jobs, announcing plans to personally audit staff registers to check compliance.
Mwadime also took aim at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), accusing the state agency of bypassing local contractors for lucrative supply and construction tenders. He challenged KWS to reform its procurement policies and appoint qualified Taita Taveta residents to top-tier management positions within the corporation.