Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania have renewed their commitment to strengthen legislation to conserve the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem.
Through collaborative efforts, the two East Africa Community (EAC) states seek to establish a legal framework to address gaps in conservation which threaten the existence of the trans-boundary ecosystem.
In resolutions made during the 13th Mara Day celebrations held at Sekenani town in Narok County, delegates from the two countries agreed to develop policies and work plans at national and sub-national levels to scale up conservation efforts.
The initiative, which has roped in civil society, development partners, regional and international agencies, and riparian communities, aims to update the Trans-Boundary Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) plan for effective management of conservation programs.
To achieve this, the two countries will mobilise resources to support research and implementation of transboundary projects while leveraging on creative arts to promote environmental conservation in the basin.
This will see increased investments in climate resilience and adaptation programmes to develop local solutions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) Executive Secretary (ES), Dr. Masinde Bwire, said the joint efforts to conserve the Mara River spanning over a decade have contributed immensely to the conservation of the delicate ecosystem, which is home to the 8th wonder of the world—the Wildebeest migration.
However, he said increased human activity has resulted in pollution of the Mara River, which is at the heart of the ecosystem, threatening the existence of wildlife and livelihoods of communities which depend on the water body.
Speaking during the celebrations, Dr. Bwire said some of the areas considered for legislation include the regulation of pesticide use and land use in the riparian areas to control pollution.
Due to poor farming practices and unregulated use of pesticides, he said, a lot of chemicals were being washed into the river, threatening both human and aquatic life.
“This is one of the areas we are looking at critically so that we develop legislation that is uniform to contain further contamination of the river,” he said.
Head of the Kenyan delegation, East Africa Community (EAC) Principal Secretary (PS), Abdi Dubat, said the government was committed to conserving the Mara River and the entire Mara ecosystem to ensure that both wildlife and communities living in the basin continue to derive the benefits.
The Mara ecosystem, he said, was of immense benefit to the country, with thousands of tourists flocking the area every year to witness the spectacular Wildebeest migration.
The ecosystem, which is shared between Kenya and Tanzania, he said, called for deepening of collaboration to ensure uniform conservation efforts.
He urged the County Government of Narok and the community to work hand in hand with the national government and the authorities in Tanzania for the effective management of conservation programmes.
Head of the Tanzanian delegation, Colonel Evans Mtambi, said climate change posed a big threat to the existence of the ecosystem, calling for the development of local-led solutions to combat the menace.
He urged the community to plant trees friendly to the environment to attract rain and address drought, which, if not addressed, will lead to the extinction of wildlife, which is the lifeline of the ecosystem.
Mara Day Celebrations is organised by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) on a rotational basis between Kenya and Tanzania to take stock of efforts and programmes made to protect and conserve the Mara River ecosystem.
LVBC, whose headquarters is Kisumu, is mandated to coordinate sustainable development and management of the Lake Victoria Basin.
By Chris Mahandara
