President Ruto gov't to establish Kenya Utalii College in Kitui, CS Mutua says

The former Machakos County governor said that since governor Dr Julius Malombe's administration had already set aside land for the college, the plans for putting up the college were in furtherance of collaboration between the National Government and the devolved unit for the benefit of local residents.

"We all know that there is money in tourism. It is a low hanging fruit. There are many globe-trotting tourists. Why can we not make them come to Kitui and Kenya in their numbers?",  asked CS Mutua.

The CS was addressing members of the Forth Estate at the Kitui County Headquarters after signing of a Memorandum Of Understanding between Kitui County Government and the Kenya Wildlife Service. He witnessed Governor Malombe and the KWS Director General Erastus Kanga sign and exchange the documents. 

CS Mutua said that the government plans to develop the Lower Eastern tourism circuit and create wealth for residents and jobs for young people.

The CS further revealed that through the MOU, KWS will stock a herd of rhinos in the South Kitui National Reserve to operationalize it and upgrade it to the level of the world-class Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

Dr Alfred Mutua further said that the KWS will give high skills and top training to Kitui County Government rangers on protecting the wildlife and securing game reserves to keep off poachers and other invaders. 

"We are going to train your rangers to be in supper class just like our own personnel at the KWS", pledged CS Mutua.

CS Dr Mutua hailed Kitui Governor Dr Julius Malombe's administration for setting up modern police stations in areas around game reserves to boost security of the wild animals.

The Tourism and Wildlife Ministry will construct five waterpans in areas near game reserves to minimize human-wildlife conflict.

Kitui County has rich tourism attraction sites like Nzambani rock, South Kitui Game Reserve, Mwingi National Reserve, unique and rare birds in Mutitu and Mutomo regions to attract tourists. There is also Kanyonyoo -Mwakini conservancy that hosts giraffes and other wild animals.

The setting up of an Utalii College campus in Kitui town will also be beneficial to other Ukambani counties as well as Mt Kenya East counties of Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Meru. Other devolved units to reap benefits from the establishment of Kenya Utalii College will be Garissa, Tana River, among others.