A number of tourist destinations among them Mugie, Sosian, Suiyan, Laikipia Nature Conservancy and Ol Maissor ranches are located along the route.
Many tourists have also been forced to re-locate all their bookings throughout the year due the rampant cases of insecurity.
Convoys of tourist vehicles have now started passing through the volatile Lonyiek route in Laikipia County.
This comes days after leaders and residents took part in a amateur motor race on the same route in a bid to promote tourism in the region, ahead of the festive season.
On Saturday, leaders from the county led residents in a 180-kilometre race drive through Nanyuki to Lonyiek in an event aimed at depicting the county as a safe destination for holidaymakers.
Two days later, convoys of tourist vehicles were spotted using the route without security escorts.
The area is considered insecure due to threats posed by armed herders.
Security vehicles lead participants of Nanyuki-Lonyiek fun race motor challenge in Laikipia County, November 25, 2017. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NMG
10 vehicles
“On Monday, we spotted close to 10 tourist vehicles passing by Lonyiek on their way to Lake Baringo from Maralal in Samburu County,” said Mr Philip Lemirile, a resident of Lonyiek area in Laikipia North.
His sentiments were echoed by Mrs Agnes Ejakan, another resident who termed it as a good gesture.
“We are hoping that the same will continue for the purposes of developing of this area,” she said.
Mrs Ejakan said restoration of peace will also encourage more investors to invest in the area.
A number of tourist destinations among them Mugie, Sosian, Suiyan, Laikipia Nature Conservancy and Ol Maissor ranches are located along the route.
However, several ranches have suffered losses after their lodges and other tourist destinations were burnt down by herders invading the ranches.
Among those whose prestigious lodges have been burnt down by illegal herders include Suiyan, Sosian and Laikipia Nature Conservancy’s Muktane Lodge.
A woman follows proceedings as leaders give their address after Nanyuki-Lonyiek amateur fun motor race in Laikipia county on November 25, 2017. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NMG
Lost jobs
Early in June, the management of Sosian Ranch decided to downscale the lodge into a private house, a decision that saw many people who were working at the ranch lose their jobs.
The decision was also aimed at focusing on 100 per cent rehabilitation of the ranch.
Many tourists have also been forced to re-locate all their bookings throughout the year due the rampant cases of insecurity.
During the Saturday event, a total of 40 vehicles and nine motorcyclists took part in the race through routes considered prone to banditry attacks.
Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, Senator John Kinyua, Woman Representative Ms Catherine Waruguru, Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere, County Assembly Majority Leader Mr Peter Thomi and Sosian MCA Jacob Edung drove from Nanyuki to Lonyiek.
Tents setup for local tourists at Lonyiek in Laikipia where participants of Nanyuki-Lonyiek amateur fun motor challenge spent the night on November 25, 2017. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NMG
Tourist attraction
After the race, the leaders said that the county expects at least 10,000 local and international tourists during the Christmas season.
As part of the peace building efforts, a bull was slaughtered at Lonyiek and roasted where participants drawn from various communities feasted on the meat after amid song and dance.
“Tourists have never used the routes for some years now. Indeed the event has already impacted positively in county’s tourism industry,” Laikipia Deputy County Secretary Mr Amos Pundn said on Tuesday.
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