Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Natural Resources

MANAGING PERSONNEL

CEC Tourism, Culture & National Resources

Mrs. Hon. Jennifer Nawoi
jennifer.nawoi@turkana.go.ke

Director of Tourism

Shemmy Ekuwom
shemmy.ekuwom@turkana.go.ke

Director of Culture, Arts and Heritage

James Kuloba
james.kuloba@turkana.go.ke

Deputy Director of Culture, Arts and Heritage

Philip Lokaala
philip.lokaala@turkana.go.ke

Deputy Director of Natural Resources

Pauline Pusiye
pauline.pusiye@turkana.go.ke

ABOUT THE MINISTRY

Our Vision

To be globally competitive in tourism, culture, heritage and natural resources preservation and protection.

Our Mission

To promote and facilitate a sustainable and vibrant environment for tourism, culture, heritage and protection of our diverse natural resources.

Our Core Values

Team spirit, mutual cooperation and strategic partnerships
Professional self conduct
Efficiency and effectiveness of operations
Integrity, transparency and accountability
Quality service delivery to all
Innovation and creativity
Proactive leadership
Social equity

DIRECTORATE OF TOURISM

Key Mandates and Strategic Objectives

Overall planning, directing, overseeing, coordination, evaluation and implementation of programmes and projects
Initiate, formulate, overview and implement department policies
Follow-up on the implementation of bilateral and multilateral tourism agreements and protocols
Undertake market surveys, tourism research and profiling of all tourist attractions in the County
Take a lead role in marketing and promotion of Turkana’s tourism products on domestic and international markets
Maintain linkages with tourism stakeholders
Provide technical advice on matters pertaining to tourism
Coordinate classification of hotels, restaurants and other tourism establishments

Programs and Measures

In a bid to market Turkana Land as a preferred tourist destination, the directorate implements a Tourism Product Development & Diversification program as well as a Tourism Destination Marketing & Promotion program, including the following measures:

Legal & Administrative:

Implement the tourism bill and policy
Develop an integrated tourism strategic plan
Create community based organizations at the attraction sites

Marketing & Promotion:

Carry out a destination branding and promotion program through media advertising, festivals and tournaments, brand ambassadors, media and trade partners, familiarization trips, joint promotions with airlines and corporates as well as regional conferences
Identify high impact international and national tourism trade shows and exhibitions to display Turkana’s tourist products
Develop new distribution channels for Turkana Land’s tourism products, e.g. the internet, catalogues and airlines

Business Development:

Reach out to tourism stakeholders to sensitize and provide them with incentives
Hold forums and promote public private partnerships for business tourism development

Research & Education:

Undertake market research, including baseline surveys and mapping
Train tour and hospitality stakeholders, i.e. tour guides, ground handlers, hoteliers and waiters

Product Development & Diversification:

Support the Pilgrimage Home of Mankind Safari Program
Construct hiking trails in Loima Forest and on Central Island
Continue to drive the Turkwood Film Project which is marketing Turkana Land as an international and domestic filming destination

Infrastructure:

Develop a signage system and erect signboards at all tourist sites
Construct curio shops at Nariokotome, Eliye, Lokiriama, Lodwar, Letea, Lokori and Kalokol
Construct an entry point for the lake zone
Construct an exhibition centre and a walk-path at the Turkana Boy monument
Construct eco toilets on the beaches of Eliye, Imprezza, Long’ec, Natole, Kalimapus, Kataboi, Nachukui and Lowareng’ak

DIRECTORATE OF NATURAL RESOURCES (FORESTS AND WILDLIFE)

Key Mandates and Strategic Objectives

Identification, mapping, gazetting and development of forests and national reserves
Protection, conservation and restoration of forest and wildlife resources
Increase of tree cover and species diversity for sustainable development
Intensify research of tree species and forest products that promote social and economic development
Development and enforcement of environmental policies and legal frameworks for the protection of flora and fauna
Management of invasive species, especially prosopis

Strategies and Measures

In order to achieve environmental and socio-economic benefits through increased tree cover and improved management of forests and tree resources in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), the Directorate prioritizes the following strategies and measures:

Legal & Administrative:

Formulate specific by-laws and legislation for the county level
Develop and implement county forest management plans
Issue operation licenses for private farms and county forests on community land
Maintain county forest and farm forestry records, databases and information
Enforce forest legislations within the county forests and on private farms

Research:

Identify suitable land for new forest reservations and National Reserves

Conservation:

Create and develop new county forests and wildlife conservancies
Increase tree cover on private, community and county lands through tree planting
Rehabilitate fragile, degraded ecosystem and forests in community lands

Business Development:

Develop nature based enterprises within county forests
Promote public-private partnerships and management practices in county forests
Develop the charcoal industry within county forests and on private farms
Develop forest products from invasive species, especially Prosopis species

Infrastructure:

Develop and main county forest infrastructure

GENERAL CONTACTS