Narok ends Equity Bank contract to collect Maasai Mara fees

Tourists enjoy a game drive in Maasai Mara Game Reserve. Narok County has terminated a contract with Equity Bank for collection of access fees into Maasai Mara game reserve after a dispute that saw tourists denied entry. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By WANGUI MAINA

In Summary

• The agreement was terminated on Monday, with the county government taking up the responsibility of collecting gate fees of one of the most visited national reserves in the country.
• The county said it would work with Kenya Association of Tour Operators, adding that it had deployed staff to issue tickets in the short term. Tickets will also be available at the Narok Country headquarters.

Narok County has terminated a contract with Equity Bank for collection of access fees into Maasai Mara game reserve after a dispute that saw tourists denied entry.

The agreement was terminated on Monday, with the county government taking up the responsibility of collecting gate fees of one of the most visited national reserves in the country.

“Effective June 25 the Narok Country Government will take responsibility for entry tickets into the Maasai Mara National Reserve,” said Narok County Finance and Economic Planning executive Lena Muge in a notice to travel operators.

She said the county would work with Kenya Association of Tour Operators, adding that it had deployed staff to issue tickets in the short term. Tickets will also be available at the Narok Country headquarters.

The cancellation means smart cards bought after Monday are invalid. “Spot checks and surveillance will be enhanced during this period and sanctions imposed on (tour) companies and drivers without valid tickets,” said Ms Muge.

The former Narok Country Council had signed a 10-year agreement with Equity Bank two years ago through which the bank would earn a commission of seven per cent on a fixed annual revenue base of Sh1.5 billion.

The contract raised eyebrows because it meant the council would still pay the bank Sh105m annually even when revenue collected fell short of target. Although Equity was the lowest bidder at Sh28m, its commission rate was the most expensive.

READ: Auditor-general faults Maasai Mara ticket deal

Previously the council used an e-ticketing system for visitors into the park. Data from the 2013 Economic Survey shows that the number of visitors to the game reserve dropped by 26 per cent to 102,000 last year as tourism revenues dropped by two per cent to Sh96.2bn.

Earlier this month, tourists were stranded at the reserve’s gate when county revenue officials carried out an impromptu search following a shortage of smartcards at the bank.

The bank had issued tour drivers with letters to use as passes, a move that was questioned by revenue officials.

“We are not certain if the money indicated in the letters is paid to our accounts,” said chief revenue officer David Letuati, in an earlier interview.

The issues arose after the county lost more than Sh9m in the last two months through rackets by tour drivers who used faulty e-ticketing cards to access the game reserve.