Marsabit County Government will partner with National Government to develop and market the region as a must-visit destination while attracting further private investors.
This was revealed when the CECM culture, Gender and social services Jeremy Ledaany led a delegation of county officials in meeting the cabinet secretary of Tourism, Wildlife, Culture and National Heritage Peninah Malonza.
The team requested support from the National Government in the execution of the Marsabit Lake Turkana cultural festival due in November,
The CECM culture expressed the need for reviving the cultural festival to the CS after a 4-year disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic coupled with the just-ended devastating drought that claimed 80 per cent of all livestock species across the county.
Ledaany informed the cabinet secretary that reviving such a festival is going to be key in economic recovery and cementing the peaceful coexistence of the local populace.
CS Malonza assured Marsabit County is going to be a key focus in developing strategies for the tourism sector.
She directed the national director for culture to form a joint committee comprising officials from the National Department of Culture, the Marsabit county government and the tourism board to steer the planning and execution of the cultural festival scheduled for Nov 2023.
"There are aspects of tourism in Marsabit county that have not been marketed previously and therefore, there is an urgent need for the Marsabit county government to partner with the National Government to make the county a tourism destination of choice, particularly on cultural tourism," she said
Tourism CAS Rehema Dida Jaldesa who was also present said Marsabit County has a rich culture, wildlife and other magical places that once exploited will help to unlock the entire northern Kenya region for investors.
Jaldesa who also hails from Isiolo County assured the CS that Northern Kenya has alot to offer particularly in cultural tourism.
She thanked the CS for agreeing to work with the county government in reviving the Loyangalani festival.
The county government is planning to host the Marsabit Loiyangalani cultural festival later this year in November in a bid to revive the local tourism sector.
Since 2014, the Loiyangalani cultural festival has been the hallmark of the county's tourism calendar with thousands of domestic and international guests swarming the region for an experience of its unique culture.
