NANDI, Kenya – In less than two weeks, Kenya will join the world in marking World Wetlands Day 2025.
The day will be commemorated on February 2 under the theme, “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future.”
This day aims to raise global awareness about the crucial role of wetlands in maintaining ecological balance and supporting human life.
Ahead of this crucial day, Kenyan conservationists have raised concern over the rampant encroachment of wetlands in the country, particularly in the North Rift region.
According to Dr. John Chumo, a conservation Secretary in the State Department for Wildlife, the wetlands have been degraded by the people living around them.
He said the most affected wetlands are in Nandi County, which has massive encroachment.
“We have several wetlands in the North Rift like the Kamnarok, the Kilwal wetlands, and the Marura that now face extinction due to human activities, which include changes in land use,” said Dr. Chumo.
Why uncontrolled farming is taking a toll on wetlands
Dr. Chumo, secretary to the National Environmental Complaints Committee, indicated that most of the wetlands had been degraded and further destroyed by the people living around them in the name of trying to look for areas to do farming and putting up residential areas.
The environmentalist raised the red flag over the encroachment, saying that it had led to the decline of the endangered Sitatunga antelopes that inhabit most wetlands due to poaching.
“I want to say that most of these wetlands in North Rift, particularly in Nandi and parts of Uasin Gishu, were home to the famous Sitatunga antelope, which is now endangered. We now risk losing this special species,” he added.
💚 WORLD WETLANDS DAY 💚 2 February 2025 This year’s theme is “Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future.” It underscores the urgency of bold action to protect these natural habitats for the welfare of all people. Be part of the global celebration. ➡️ worldwetlandsday.org
In an interview with Y News, Dr. Chumo reiterated that most wetlands had encroached because people are now pushing the Sitatunga regarding poaching.
“We have seen the impact of the decline in the numbers of Sitatunga over the last five years. Statistics show, for example, that in King’war, Nandi County, the number of antelopes was between 300 and 400. Still, this number has now come down to a level that cannot even be mentioned in figures,” lamented Dr. Chumo, adding that the King’wal has encroached seriously.
How Kenyan wild animals are being exposed to danger
Dr. Chumo further observed that poaching had driven the animals from the wetlands. Some have decided to move to the wetlands around Moi University, and others now inhabit Kimondi Forest along the River Yala.
“This only means that they are being exposed to a lot of danger because we have heard a lot of cases of poaching of these animals, especially in Kibirong, which is in Kaptumo,” Dr. Chumo disclosed.
WORLD WETLANDS DAY to be held on 2nd February 2025 at Ondiri Wetland, Kiambu County. World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually on February 2nd to mark the day of the adoption of the Ramsar Convection. The day is used to raise awareness on the importance of wetlands for people…
In his own words, the environmentalist who holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies went on:
“Therefore, we are saying that as a country, unless we take this conservation seriously and the people living along the wetlands take this conservation seriously and take care of these sitatungas, then we are facing a bleak future in terms of tourism. This has been a serious tourist attraction for people watching birds and the Sitatunga antelope, which is now endangered.”
Why illegal sand harvesting must be stopped
He further indicated that the encroachment had seriously degraded the country’s rivers, springs, and water sources.
“We have seen a lot of interference whenever there is a lot of rain. What normally happens is erosion occurs, and due to that, there’s environmental degradation along the water sources, forming many very dangerous channels,” Dr. Chumo explained.
The expert, who is also enrolled in a master’s program in environmental and occupational health at Egerton University, said that many areas had been encroached upon and are now turned into residential areas, with locals resorting to the illegal harvest of sand.
“These areas have become fragile and are causing danger to the extent that if we don’t stop this kind of activity along the swamps, along the rivers, and along the springs, what would happen is that there will be a lot of soil being taken up, and therefore what would happen is that erosion will take place, and the areas of rivers will get highly degraded,” Dr. Chumo added.
Dr. Chumo has now called upon all the concerned stakeholders, including the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), county governments, and the residents who live along the affected wetlands, to embark on the plantation of Indigenous trees meant for conservation.
“Let us plant bamboo that will hold the soil, clean the water, and ensure the ecosystem is intact. We will also see wildlife coming back. This can only be done by a multi-agency approach where we see the county governments involved and other agencies like NEMA, Water Resource Authority, National Land Commission, and the residents living along the fragile ecosystem,” Dr. Chumo said.
