Stakeholders urge Kenya, Tanzania to protect Mara River
Speaking during the 15th anniversary of Mara Day, stakeholders drawn from government agencies, communities, conservation organisations, universities, Water Resource Users Associations and development partners said the river requires coordinated management from its source in Kenya to its downstream areas in Tanzania.
BOMET, Kenya – Stakeholders from Kenya and Tanzania have called for stronger cooperation to protect the Mara River Basin from environmental degradation and increased water resource demands. Speaking at the 15th anniversary of Mara Day, representatives from government agencies, communities, conservation organizations, universities, water user associations, and development partners emphasized the need for coordinated management of the river, which flows from Kenya to Tanzania.
The event, themed "Mara River, Diverse Lives: Keep It Thriving," highlighted the importance of the river to communities, wildlife, agriculture, tourism, and local economies in both countries.
Stakeholders discussed various threats to the river, including deforestation, changing land use, pollution, unsustainable agriculture, water abstraction, and climate change. Dr. Shadrack Rotich, Deputy Governor of Bomet County, stressed that communities must be at the center of conservation efforts. He urged stakeholders to translate discussions into measurable actions and emphasized the importance of linking scientific research, policy, and local knowledge for better management of the shared resource.
Dr. Masinde Bwire, Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission, said the Mara River is vital to the ecosystems and economies of both countries, serving as a lifeline for people, wildlife, forests, grasslands, agriculture, and tourism. He called for practical measures to address challenges facing the basin and urged stakeholders to strengthen structures for collaboration among governments, communities, and other partners.
Kevin Gichangi, WWF-Kenya's Manager for the Mara-Kenya landscape, noted that the river's health is directly tied to the well-being of its surrounding communities and ecosystems. He identified deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, settlement expansion, increased water abstraction, and climate change as major pressures on the Mara Basin. Gichangi emphasized that conservation efforts should target the root causes of environmental degradation, not just its visible effects.
Participants discussed the challenges faced by the source areas of the Mara, such as vegetation loss, soil erosion, sedimentation, and the use of agricultural chemicals. Community representatives also highlighted concerns over farming expansion into riparian areas, deforestation, poorly planned urban settlements, and inadequate sewage management. They advocated for sustainable livelihood opportunities like beekeeping, bamboo production, and nature-based enterprises to incentivize conservation.
The stakeholders recommended improving the accessibility of research findings to communities and promoting citizen science initiatives to ensure that conservation efforts are informed by local knowledge. They also called for the implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services programs to incentivize conservation efforts in the Upper Mara.
Dr. Joash Oruta, Deputy Director for Regional Coordination at the Water Resources Authority, stressed the need for equitable water sharing, stronger planning, and collective responsibility in managing the Mara River's resources.
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