The National Assembly’s Public Petition Committee led by Hon. Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East) met the State Department of Wildlife Principal Secretary (PS) Ms. Silvia Museiya together with the Director General Kenya Wildlife Services, Dr. Erustus Kanga to discuss a petition filed by Hon. Aramat Lemanken (Narok East).

The petition implores the National Government to undertake the construction of a public access road to cater for the residents of Narok East. The request arises from the location of the constituency. It is surrounded by Hell's Gate National Park, Olserian Farm, and Kengen Geothermal Station.

The inhabitants face restrictions as they are allowed to enter Hell's Gate National Park  on two days per week. This severely limits their ability to move freely. Consequently, they experience not just the lack of basic necessities like access to healthcare but also access to markets in Naivasha.

The PS told the Committee that the steps are taken to  protect and conserve the Hell’s Gate National Park.

“If we allow passage through protected areas and parks we will be obliterating our conservations. We need to protect our country’s bio-diversity,” said Ms. Museiya

The Committee sought to know the reasoning behind allowing roads like Mombasa Road to pass through Tsavo National Park without constraint, despite the imperative of conserving those parks. Furthermore, they reasoned that if passage can be permitted twice a week, then there is no reason to deny access the rest of the days.

“We will not stop until the people of Narasha have a road. We cannot have residents moving 150 km to get basic health facilities and markets. This has to change. Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) should be allowed access to transport these residents:, said Hon. Mbai. .