Taita Taveta Senator Jones Mwaruma has vowed to ditch ODM and join UDA if the promise to share revenue from the expansive Tsavo National Park is implemented.
He said the money would be enough to put up flagship development projects in the county and create hundreds of jobs.
If well-shared with all the counties bordering the park, Mwaruma said, the money will transform the region that has been marginalised for years.
“If the money is shared at 50-50 as promised by the President, then I will join his UDA party without hesitating. I will have achieved my goal of fighting for a share of billions collected from the park,” Mwaruma told the Star in an interview on Wednesday.
County leaders have for years been pushing for the national government to share money collected from the park to help boost county coffers.
They have also been mounting pressure to convert the country’s oldest park to a game reserve and its management handed over to the devolved unit.
While touring the county on Sunday, President William Ruto promised that revenue collected from the country's biggest conservation area would be shared between the national government and neighbouring counties at 50-50.
The President said there has not been an equity share of revenue from the park thus resulting in marginalisation of the county.
It is estimated that Kenya collects at least Sh60 billion from Tsavo East and West national parks annually.
The twin park occupies more than 60 per cent of Taita Taveta county landmass.
Apart from Taita Taveta, the park also borders Kitui, Makueni, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River and Kajiado counties.
Almost all the seven counties have rooted for a slice of the revenue.
“I know other counties are getting a share from conservancies and I agree with county leaders that there is a need for this region to get a share,” Ruto said during an interdenominational prayer service at Mwatunge grounds in Mwatate constituency.
The head of state promised that the government will convene a meeting between county leaders and the Kenya Wildlife Service to agree on a revenue-sharing arrangement.
Additionally, Ruto said the county will be given priority in recruitment of game rangers and wardens. He directed the KWS director general to allocate at least 40 per cent of the slots to the county.
Mwaruma has however promised to put President Ruto in check until he implements all the promises.
“I will be there to remind him of the pledges because he has a tendency of not fulfilling his promises,” Mwaruma added.
Mwaruma said the county should receive not less than Sh5 billion annually from the park if the 50 per cent sharing formula is followed.
The senator is the opposition chief Raila Odinga’s point man in the county and has constantly accused the government of sidelining the region.
He said the county has remained underdeveloped despite being endowed with multibillion-shilling resources like the Tsavo park and gemstones.