According to a report shared by Nation Africa, Narok County is under fire for spending Sh8 million on a rhino ear-notching project. The county government claims that the money was used to mark 20 rhinos, meaning each rhino cost Sh400,000 to notch.
This has raised serious concerns about how public funds are being used, with many questioning why such a simple exercise needed so much money.
Ear-notching is a process where unique cuts are made on a rhino’s ears to help in identification. While this is an important conservation effort, the amount spent by Narok County is suspicious.
Conservation experts say that ear-notching does not require such a large budget, and other organizations have done similar work for much less. This raises the question of whether the money was actually used for its intended purpose or if there was mismanagement.
According to Nation Africa, there were also problems in accounting for the fuel used during the exercise. This suggests that there may have been inflated costs or misuse of funds. In a country where people are struggling with high living costs, it is unacceptable for a county government to misuse millions on a project that could have been done for a lower price.
The government is supposed to protect both the wildlife and public funds, but in this case, it looks like financial responsibility was ignored.The biggest concern is the lack of transparency. If the county government cannot provide clear records of how the money was spent, it creates room for corruption.
This is not the first time county governments have been accused of misusing funds in the name of conservation. In many cases, money meant for environmental protection ends up in the pockets of a few individuals while the actual work done is minimal.
Narok County must come clean on this issue and explain why Sh8 million was spent on a process that should not cost so much. There should be an independent audit to determine whether there was any fraud.
If the county government cannot account for the money, those responsible should face legal action. Kenyans are tired of seeing public money wasted while basic services like healthcare and infrastructure remain poor.
This case should also serve as a warning to other counties that think they can misuse funds without consequences. Conservation is important, but it should not be used as an excuse for corruption.
The people of Narok and Kenya as a whole deserve better leadership that prioritizes both environmental protection and financial accountability.
The national government and anti-corruption agencies must investigate this case to ensure that public funds are not wasted in the name of wildlife conservation.
