By Ben Leshau
Narok legislators want hotels and camps in the world-famous Masai Mara Game Reserve to give 70 percent of the jobs to local youths to tame rampant unemployment in the County.
The lawmakers led by Narok West Gabriel Tongoyo and Narok East Lemanken Aramat maintained that by the virtue of the game reserve being at the heart of the County, locals should be given priority in employment.
“We demand that the camps and hotels in the game reserve employ at least 70 percent or more of local youth. We have enough graduates in hospitality-related courses and should be absorbed as tour guides, waiters, waitresses, game rangers and any other available jobs,” said Tongoyo.
Mr Aramat echoed Tongoyo’s sentiments saying the 70 percent jobs to the locals was their privilege that should be respected.
Tongoyo also asked the camps to allow local women to operate curio shops within their premises to access direct market for their bead work.
The first-time MP also accused Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) for alleged laxity in responding to human-wildlife cases involving the locals.
“KWS should improve on its response to human-wildlife cases. Anytime locals report attack by wildlife they delay but when they hear that a wild animal has been killed they respond swiftly. This should change,” said Tongoyo.
The two legislators, however, expressed their support to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s war on corruption saying no one should be spared in the purge.