Alfred Mutua, the nominee for the Labor and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary position, showcased his significant accomplishments from his tenure as the Tourism Cabinet Secretary during a recent vetting session.
Speaking before the panel, Mutua emphasized the progress made in boosting tourism and addressing human-wildlife conflict, notably increasing tourist arrivals in Kenya.
Mutua disclosed that, thanks to the frameworks he established, the country anticipates welcoming up to three million tourists by the end of the year, with projections aimed at reaching five million in the next 18 months.
“This growth trajectory is expected to continue, and we have laid the groundwork to support this surge in visitation,” he stated confidently.
Addressing the pressing issue of human-wildlife conflict, Mutua announced the launch of a new compensation scheme that has successfully disbursed one billion shillings to victims who had previously faced delays.
“I have also put in place systems so that more people could be paid,” he added, further promising a more efficient process for compensation in the future.
One of Mutua’s highlighted achievements was his crackdown on corruption related to the fencing of national parks, which he described as a significant financial drain.
“When I inherited the project, I discovered we were spending Sh3 million to fence just one kilometer, which was unacceptable. Through research and transparency, we managed to bring that cost down to Sh850,000 per kilometer while maintaining high standards,” he explained.
This efficient approach has allowed for the fencing of 400 kilometers of park land, significantly improving wildlife protection efforts.
As he continues through the vetting process, Mutua, who has also held positions in Tourism and Foreign Affairs, remains optimistic about bringing his extensive experience to the Labor and Social Protection docket, where he aims to further enhance social welfare programs in Kenya.
