- Meru County is turning to its cultural roots in a fresh push to revive tourism.
- A new initiative is putting traditional foods, music and heritage at the centre of the county’s tourism plans.
- The focus is shifting to a historic attraction whose international fame once drew global attention.
The Meru County government is set to reverse the fading fortunes of the tourism sector by reviving Meru National Park to its former glory using traditional culture.
Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma said that to revive and transform the sector, residents must go back to their traditional culture, including cooking and eating traditional food, since it has better economic and health benefits than modern dishes.
“The colonists misled the Africans into abandoning their traditional culture in favour of new practices. We must go back to our roots of planting traditional foods like cassava, arrow roots, yams, sweet potatoes and millet, among others. They are better owing to their instant economic and health benefits. I challenge the Meru community to support the initiative by embracing our traditional culture,” said Mutuma.
The governor was speaking when he launched the inaugural Ameru Cultural Festival at Murera Gate of Meru National Park, which brought together residents, cultural practitioners, artists, traditionalists, visitors and leaders.
Mutuma promised to distribute development projects equally in Imenti, Igembe and Tigania without discrimination.
He said that despite Meru having had three former governors since devolution, he was the first to initiate such a cultural festival in the county.
Deputy Governor Linda Kiome said the county will continue partnering with stakeholders like the Kenya Wildlife Service to ensure the event is held annually.
She said the initiative will revive the park and transform the locality economically and socially, owing to the many local and foreign tourists set to visit.
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Agriculture, Trade and Tourism County Executive Committee Member (CECM) Janaro Guanta, alias “Gatangugi,” commended the governor and cautioned leaders against misappropriating public funds. He said Murera market, near the park, is set to witness unprecedented developments as investors flock in to build rental houses and other infrastructure.
Mutuma said the festival will be institutionalised, with legislation being considered to give it a permanent place on the cultural tourism calendar.
The three-day festival featured song, dance, traditional attire, food, artefacts and narratives passed from one generation to another. County officials described it as the beginning of a cultural tourism journey that could open new opportunities for local communities.
The once famous park covers about 870 square kilometres and lies about 60 kilometres from Meru town. It is home to the Big Five and is particularly associated with the conservation of black and white rhinoceroses, as well as the story of Elsa the lioness from Born Free.
Elsa became one of the world’s best-known wild animals after her story was documented in the book and film, placing Meru on the international conservation map. According to the governor, this global recognition is why the region decided to host the event to bring back the lost glory of the park.
During the just concluded seventh edition of the Uraa Gate cultural festival in neighbouring Tharaka Nithi County, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano highlighted efforts to preserve indigenous knowledge, traditional foods and cultural heritage. She said the government is also working on policy and legislative frameworks to guide the cultural sector.
According to Meru leaders, the challenge will now be to ensure that the festival becomes more than an annual celebration.
“Its success will depend on whether it can translate music, dance and heritage into sustained tourist arrivals, employment and income for communities living around the park, because the ambition is to create a tourism model where conservation and community benefit together,” said Mutuma.
By John Majau
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