Lake Baringo, International tourists’ point

By Olemerige Samuel, Elijah Rutto, Yemit Irene.

 

Lake Baringo is approximately 300 Kilometres away from Nairobi. It is found to the North of Marigat town in Baringo County, around 20 Kilometres. It is one of the Great Rift Valley’s fresh water lakes.  There are a lot of activities taking place in the Lake and its environs, fishing, Canoeing, boat riding and so forth.

The communities living around the Lake are the Ilchamus, Tugens, and Pokots.The Ilchamus cover a major part of the Lake. The Pokots are found in Komolion while Tugens have settled in the areas of Bartum/Loruk.

The road network to Lake Baringo is dilapidated. The tarmac road is full of deep and perilous potholes. Tourists both local and foreign have to bear the agony of the rough road all the way to the Lake. They part with money in the form of levies, charged at a barrier at the out skirts of Kampi Ya Samaki.

This barrier also is the entrance to a reptile’s park which is on the left hand side of the main road. There is a small green metallic gate leading to the reptile’s park, and above the gate is a sign post written County Council of Baringo. Unfortunately, the sign post has been altered and words are upside-down and therefore needs to be put in the correct manner to sell the county council of Baringo in a dignified way.

Transport challenge as schools open

By Elijah Ruto

Hundreds of passengers in Marigat are stranded at the bus stop after lacking vehicles to their various destinations.

The challenge  has been  attributed to transport rule by the government, which bans Public service vehicles from travelling after 6pm.  The most affected were students who were returning to school after a long festive holiday.

Fare was hiked from the daily normal amount, forcing passengers to pay double as the situation worsened. Most of the matatus broke the rules, carrying passengers beyond the required capacity.

Passengers struggle to enter a 7-seater matatu. (Photo by Elijah Ruto)

One of the matatu conductor who requested that his identity be withheld said, “Today we have earned a lot of money and now this will be our Christmas, the transport rules are tough and we have to adhere to avoid paying huge fine.”

 “The students were here as early as 7am to get means of going back to school, some were lucky but others are still looking for other means,” said Esther Kimosop a business lady at Marigat market.

The normal passengers had a rough time because they were told to consider students first.

Residents of Marigat request the government to re-visit the recently passed rule and try to adjust to a time whereby it will be convenient to all.