Business boom as Maralal Town hosts the 26th edition of annual camel derby
Camel riders take part in the 26th Maralal International Camel Derby amateur race at the Yare Camel Club in Maralal, Samburu County on August 15, 2015. The four-day event is aimed at boasting tourism and promoting peace in the northern circuit. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Samburu county government, together with other partners, has injected Sh22 million in ensuring the derby acts as a springboard for cohesion among communities in the county.
- The normal hotel rates for standard accommodation in Maralal Town shot from Sh3,500 to Sh6,000.
- Governor Lenolkulal said there are plans to market the unique event and link camel riders with others in Asia for possible international participation.
- At least 40 camels were declared fit for the run by the County Director of Veterinary Services Dr Daniel Macharia.
There has been a boom in hotel business in the otherwise forgotten town of Maralal in Samburu County, due to the high number of local and international tourists flocking in for the 26th edition of the annual Maralal International Camel Derby.
More than 200 international participants have already registered for the event with entries from America, United Kingdom, Japan and Argentina in the event slated for August 14 to 16, 2015.
The sporting event, one of its kind in East and Central Africa, has seen the Samburu county government, together with other partners, inject Sh22 million in ensuring the derby acts as a springboard for cohesion among communities in the county.
This is in line with this year’s theme of ‘Sporting for tourism, conservation and peaceful cultural interaction’.
The normal hotel rates for standard accommodation in Maralal Town shot from Sh3,500 to Sh6,000 while in high end hotels rates shot from Sh5,000 to Sh10,000 for full board services per day.
“Surprisingly we have run short of hotels in Maralal. All the hotels are booked.
“Initial indications showed that we expected bigger numbers than last year and we shall ensure that every visitor in need of accommodation will be served,” said Governor Moses Lenolkulal during the flagging off of amateur camel racers signed for the competition.
40 CAMELS IN THE RACE
At least 40 camels were declared fit for the run by the County Director of Veterinary Services Dr Daniel Macharia with two of the desert giants, which had been presented for the competition, being put aside for medical reasons.
Governor Lenolkulal said there are plans to market the unique event and link camel riders with others in Asia for possible international participation and in order to change the negative image painted about the county.
“Samburu has been known for all the wrong reasons but this time round we want to change the course and place the county on the map that promotes tourist business and wildlife conservation,” he said.
The governor added that the county in collaboration with the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is promoting such conservation programmes so as to integrate the local community in wildlife management.
This, he said, will go a long way in not only curbing cases of insecurity that have been rampant such as cattle rustling, highway banditry and poaching.
