Narok Town -Pic/Noel

Lekuton from Narok County, a shop owner in Narok town, welcomes the idea of Diaspora Kenyans being part of 2012 race. He says, “Not even the Maasai’s will be left behind if the Diaspora are true to their word and improve Kenya’s economy. This will mean the gap between the rich and the poor decreases and youths get jobs.” This is in reference to the statement, “Kenyans in Diaspora through an initiative by Dr. Wilson Endege of Harvard, Boston have started organizing themselves to create a platform capable of moving Kenya from $65b to $200b economy (2012-2017) as population grows to 45 million. Per Capita would climb to $4,400 = 200b/45m and Kenya would climb one-step.”

A tour of Narok County starts from Mai Mahiu, a small town that has shaped itself to be one where most residents have put up businesses to serve travelers who pass through this town going to Naivasha or the Maasai Mara game reserve. The beautiful landscape in this area is a sight to behold; one is left with awe and understanding why many tourists like to view this scenic natural beauty. Mount Longonot is a sight to marvel at. Before one is done staring at Mount Logonot, Mount Margaret and Mount Suswa come into view followed by the green leafy trees, escarpments and hills. One can also not miss the wild animals; Baboons, Gazelles and Zebras that graze in the lands across the road all the way to Narok town.

The indigenous citizens of Narok are Maasai even though the area has increasingly become cosmopolitan with other tribes such as Kikuyu, Luo and Kisii who have settled and mingled in with the Maasai Community. Narok town is a quiet town that does not have impressive, tall buildings; Chempai House is about six floors and many other buildings are about three floors. It is a town that can grow to a great city. 

The economic activities start with tourism and one can’t help dreaming what it would be like to see convoys of tourism vans going to Maasai Mara that is famous for the “Great Migration” of wildlife from Serengeti reserve in Tanzania. The migration, considered by many as the 8th wonder of the world, involves about 2 - 3 million wildebeest, Thomson's gazelles, elands, zebras and others migrating in search for green pastures, followed also by wild cats and hyenas. Residents of Narok selling post cards with these pictures have great pride of this natural phenomenon. Just thinking aloud I ask, “What if 10,000 people visited Maasai Mara every day. In 365 days, 3.65 million visits to the park?” 

Cattle herding is the number one occupation of the Maasai and having cows in the Narok Town streets is not a big deal to local residents. When travelling one notices large herds of cattle all day in their expansive areas of this county that is recorded to be 17,944 square kilometers meters which is about 4.5 million acres of land with most of this land preserved specifically for the cows. Wheat farming is also largely practiced in this area and as we travel one sees huge tracts of land being ploughed in preparation for the month of February which is the planting season.  Apart from Wheat farming, maize, cabbage and Irish Potato farms are noticeable. 

One cannot fail to feel the aspirations of the people of Narok County. Residents want to preserve their culture and also embrace new ways of economic development. Indeed many of the residents in Narok town have a mobile phone to connect then. Their aspirations are in the pride of the Narok University College, a Constituent College of Moi University that has been set up in the area. They are now educating their children to university level as they preserve their rich culture of owning wealth through raising cattle. 

Walking in Narok town one is impressed with residents who have embraced business. The town of Narok today has all sorts of businesses including selling clothes, food, shoes, mobile phones etc.  The big banks in Kenya including, Cooperative Bank, Equity Bank, Commercial Bank and Barclays Bank and Post Bank have set up shops in the area.

This beautiful story of Narok can be summed up with words of one of the business owner selling tourism products who said, “Yes,” to Kenyans abroad joining the race with a smile as he looked at the products he was selling, “If they can help and make more tourists pass through here everyday…” I’d not need to hear the last words of this beautiful dream that shone from his eyes.