Nairobi: The government has established two model waste demonstration centers with 210 waste service providers trained in Kakamega, Kisumu, Machakos, Nyeri, Garissa, and neighboring counties, according to its Mid-Term Progress Report on Environment. Additionally, the government has also restored six wetlands in Narok and Homa Bay Counties.
According to Kenya News Agency, presenting the government's midterm scorecard, the government spokesperson, Dr. Isaac Mwaura, noted that 1.7 billion seedlings have been produced and 758 million trees grown through a coordinated whole-of-government approach to growing trees. Further, he disclosed that 7,505 hectares of mangrove forest have been rehabilitated and another 3,054 hectares of bamboo forest established.
Dr. Mwaura also lauded the modernized meteorological services that are ensuring consistent weather forecasts and enhancing the capacity of the Kenya Meteorological Department. '70 automatic weather stations have been installed in 24 counties and three Automatic Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) have been installed at Moi International Airport, Laikipia Airbase, and Moi Airbase,' he illuminated.
Meanwhile, the government spokesperson observed that the service economy, comprising tourism and wildlife sectors, has witnessed significant growth with a 23 percent increase in domestic bed nights and a 43 percent increase in hotel bed occupancy. This, in turn, he proclaimed, creates jobs, with 73 percent more graduates from the Kenya Utalii College employed within the country and abroad.
To diversify Kenyan tourism, Dr. Mwaura said that the government is promoting niche market products, including adventure tourism, cultural tourism, and sports. In addition, he cited that international tourism has also increased by 60 percent, with a 1 million increase in the number of international visitors, enhancing tourism earnings to Sh184.11 billion.
'Skills development within the hospitality sector has also increased as the number of visitors to national parks and game reserves increased to 6.258 million,' stated the government spokesperson. Further, to augment wildlife enhanced mitigation measures, Dr. Mwaura revealed that the government has rehabilitated one rhino sanctuary in the Aberdare National Park and supported the establishment of one sanctuary in Loisaba Conservancy to protect endangered species numbers.
He recalled that the national wildlife research agenda, which was launched in June 2023, is also contributing to wildlife research in Kenya and the region. Additionally, he announced that the government has disbursed Sh2.36 billion towards the settlement of human-wildlife conflict compensation claims and has commenced the construction of a 320 km wildlife fence to address human-wildlife conflicts in various counties, including Laikipia, Taita Taveta, Kericho, and Makueni.