A high-end tourism development in Kenyas Maasai Mara has drawn sharp criticism from conservationists and indigenous leaders who say it threatens a vital wildlife corridor, and claim it violates the rights of local communities.
The Ritz-Carlton Maasai Mara Safari Camp, currently under construction along the Sand River inside the Maasai Mara National Reserve, is situated along a key migratory corridor used during the annual Great Migration of over 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra and other species. Conservationists argue that the location just 30 metres from the Tanzania border could potentially disrupt the ecosystem.
Leading the oppositionThe Maasai Education, Research and Conservation MERC Institute, led by veteran Kenyan conservationist Meitamei Ole Dapash , has issued an urgent appeal for transparency and accountability from Marriott International, which manages the Ritz-Carlton brand, about the development.
It is deeply troubling that a company known for maintaining strict environmental and ethical standards in cities like Washington, London and Tokyo would abandon those same standards in Kenya, said Dapash.
In a letter to Marriott International CEO Anthony Capuano , MERC called for the immediate release of all permits, land agreements and environmental assessments required under Kenyan law. The letter gave Marriott 14 days to respond, threatening legal action and international advocacy if ignored.