Famed tourist hotel closes over Tana clashes

• Dunes Lodge, which was listed as "One of 50 Great Green Places to Stay Worldwide," and won Responsible Tourism Awards from the London Times, has given redundancy letters to 40 members of its staff.
• Managing director Tamsin Corcoran said the facility had been closed down because of the volatile situation in the area.
• He said two of the hotel’s workers had been killed in the clashes while at their homes.
• The clashes have also affected the operation of the 150,000 - acres conservancy, a joint venture between Delta Dunes and the Tana River Delta community. It is managed by trustees from the two warring communities .

A famed tourist hotel has been shut down in Tana River County following clashes between the Pokomo and Orma communities that have left more than 100 people dead.

Dunes Lodge, which was listed as "One of 50 Great Green Places to Stay Worldwide," and won Responsible Tourism Awards from the London Times, has given redundancy letters to 40 members of its staff.

Managing director Tamsin Corcoran said the facility had been closed down because of the volatile situation in the area.

“We have closed the lodge until the situation calms down. We work closely with the local community,” Ms Corcoran said.

He said two of the hotel’s workers had been killed in the clashes while at their homes.

Ms Corcoran who also operates the Lower Tana River Delta Conservation Trust blamed local leaders for failing to initiate meaningful development projects in the area.

The flare up in the area was caused by competition for natural resources and politics may have flared up the clashes.

“The areas have been neglected by MPs leaving locals to struggle over few available resources. Sadly politics got in. The literacy level is only two per cent in Tana Delta,” she said.

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The clashes have also affected the operation of the 150,000 - acres conservancy, a joint venture between Delta Dunes and the Tana River Delta community. It is managed by trustees from the two warring communities.

gbocha@ke.nationmedia.com