Floods destroy lodges, kill animals in Maasai Mara

The floods in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve have caused immense destruction of tourist facilities and the deaths of many wild animals.

The impact of the flash floods on the reserve’s ecosystem could be significant, affecting the animals through drowning as well as disrupting habitats, food sources and water availability.

Narok County Natural Resources Network chairperson Nicholas Ole Murero said giraffes and gazelles have been most affected.

The flooding of tourist facilities in the game reserve, he added, is likely to have a huge impact on revenue for owners.

“We had a lot of bookings affected by the floods as some camps and hotels are submerged. We are currently transferring tourists to safer places,” Mr Murero said.

The affected camps include JW Marriot Masai Mara Lodge, Mara Leisure, Mara Sweet Acacia, Crocodile Camp, Pride Inn-Azure Lodge, Intrepid and Base Camp.

Helicopters were used to evacuate tourists in the affected facilities.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Narok Chief Park Warden Stephen Minis told the Nation that some of the tourists are stranded and might miss flights back to their countries as the only route, through the flooded Talek gate, is impassable and only helicopters can be used to evacuate them.

Narok County Commissioner Kipkoech Lotiata yesterday led the county security team in the rescue operation and confirmed that they are using two helicopters provided by the county government and KWS to evacuate the tourists and workers trapped in the marooned facilities. In the last five days, at least 11 people have died due to floods in Narok and Bomet counties.

The body of a 17-year-old unidentified person was retrieved from Kipsonoi river and taken to Kapkatet sub-county hospital in the neighbouring Kericho County.

At the same time, the body of a three-year-old boy who drowned in Ngasiat river in Narok West Constituency on Sunday has been recovered and taken to Longisa Hospital mortuary in Bomet.

The body of the child’s mother is yet to be recovered. In Torokiat village, still in Narok, the body of a 42-year-old has been recovered from Michigilwet seasonal river.

Two weeks ago, five family members—Robert Keter, 35 years, Faith Keter, 24, Brian Kibet, 5, and Cherotich Keter, 3— died in the same village.

The bodies have since been buried. Bomet County Chief Officer for Devolution and Special Programs Eric Cheruyoit said families affected by the floods require assistance in the form of foodstuffs and medication.