BOMET, Kenya Sep 15 – Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) Executive Secretary Dr Masinde Bwire has called for urgent and sustained action to protect the Mara River, warning that annual conservation celebrations must translate into practical measures.

📻 Breaking It Down

Speaking during the 15th Mara Day celebrations in Bomet County, Bwire said Kenya and Tanzania must move beyond commitments made during the annual event and implement measures that will secure the future of the transboundary Mara ecosystem.

The celebrations were held under the theme “Mara River, Diverse Lives: Keep It Thriving,” highlighting the river’s role in supporting biodiversity, tourism, agriculture, livestock and communities in both countries.

Bwire said the event had brought together stakeholders with different experiences but a shared responsibility to protect the river and the wider ecosystem.

📌 What You Need to Know

“Most importantly, we have agreed that the time for action is now to conserve, restore and protect Mara ecosystem for the present and future generations,” he said.

Bwire said the future of the Mara River will depend on decisions and investments being made today, urging stakeholders to prioritise conservation, climate resilience, scientific research, community livelihoods and capacity building.

He called for investments that deliver measurable and sustainable results rather than short-term interventions.

“As we look to the future, however, we must increasingly prioritize investments that deliver lasting, measurable and sustainable results,” Bwire said.

The Mara River originates in Kenya’s Mau Forest Complex, flows through the Maasai Mara and crosses into Tanzania, where it supports the wider Serengeti ecosystem and the annual wildebeest migration.

The river also provides water for households, livestock and farming communities along its course.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya