Improved roads open up Northern Kenya’s tourism gems, says Miano
The Mt Kenya Times 
North’s spectacular landscapes
Tourism CS Rebecca Miano says better connectivity is bringing the north’s spectacular landscapes and cultures within reach of more travellers
By John Kariuki
Improved road infrastructure is helping unlock some of Northern Kenya’s most spectacular tourism destinations, Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano has said.
Miano said better connectivity was making it easier for tourists to reach the region’s diverse landscapes and cultural attractions — potentially transforming the fortunes of communities and businesses long left on the margins of Kenya’s mainstream tourism circuit.
She pointed to the development of key roads, including the Isiolo-Moyale Highway and upgraded local routes, as having significantly improved access to destinations previously considered difficult to reach.
The CS highlighted a wealth of attractions across the region — from the sacred cliffs of Mt Ololokwe and the crystal-clear streams of Ngurunit to the vast salt pans of the Chalbi Desert and the jade waters of Lake Turkana.
“Beyond Kenya’s southern trails lies a wild, sun-carved frontier,” Miano said, describing Northern Kenya as a land of raw, untouched magic.
She said improved infrastructure was fundamentally changing what it means to travel north. Journeys once defined by punishing roads and long, uncertain hours are increasingly becoming accessible road-trip experiences that more Kenyans and international visitors can enjoy.
That improved connectivity, she added, was bringing travellers closer to the north’s unique cultures, eco-lodges and sweeping wilderness — experiences that simply were not reachable for most tourists before.
Miano’s remarks come as the government intensifies efforts to diversify Kenya’s tourism offering and encourage visitors to explore beyond the traditional beach and safari circuits. For years, poor road networks and limited connectivity have been cited as the primary obstacles holding back the full realisation of Northern Kenya’s tourism potential.
Better roads are now expected to make it easier for tour operators to include northern destinations in their itineraries, while also inspiring more domestic tourists to discover the region for themselves.
Miano said the northern circuit offered visitors a chance to experience a genuinely different side of Kenya — one where ancient traditions continue to thrive alongside some of the country’s most dramatic natural scenery.
The region encompasses deserts, mountains, lakes and rich cultural encounters, presenting compelling opportunities for adventure tourism, eco-tourism and cultural immersion alike.
Beyond the visitor experience, the CS said improved accessibility could have a significant wider economic impact — supporting hotels, lodges, tour operators, local guides, cultural enterprises and the many other businesses that depend on a healthy tourism economy.
She said Northern Kenya’s untapped potential was a powerful reminder that Kenya’s tourism story extends well beyond its world-famous beaches and wildlife reserves.
As roads continue to improve, Miano said, destinations once regarded as remote are steadily being brought within reach of travellers hungry for new experiences.
“It is a journey where ancient traditions endure and the wild still reigns,” she said, urging visitors to come and discover the region’s hidden gems for themselves.
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