WORLD WETLANDS DAY
World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2nd February, marking the date in 1971, when the Convention on Wetlands, known as the Ramsar Convention, was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar, drawing attention to the importance of wetlands. The theme for 2017 “Wetlands for Disaster Risk Reduction” was selected to raise awareness and to highlight the vital role of healthy wetlands in reducing the impacts of extreme events such as floods, droughts and cyclones on communities, and in helping to build resilience.
In Kenya the World Wetlands Day is held annually on 2nd of February each year. This event is organized by NEMA through the national steering committee including KUNEC Members. This year’s event took place in Transnzoia in Kipsaina Primary school in Eldoret town. Kenyatta University Students Environmental Club Members participated in the event to mark the Day. The students converged at the NEMA headquarters at 7.30a.m and left for Kitale. They had a stopover at Nakuru town where they had some refreshments before they proceeded to Kitale town arriving there at 7.30.p.m since the day was far spent they slept at Manna House Research center.
The students left early and converged at the County Government of Trans-nzoia headquarters in Kitale town to join the rest of the participants. The event was flagged off by the Governor who ushered in KUNEC students to lead the procession carrying the events banner through the town to Kipsaina Primary school near kipsaina market, the venue for the event. Kipsaina wetland is home to Golden Cranes birds, which is a rare species of birds in the world. The aim of this procession was to specifically create awareness to the protection and the conservation of the wetland which is the natural home for this rare bird’s and a source of water to the people living near the wetland.
The event is celebrated yearly to inform the communities living adjacent to the wetlands and the country at large, the importance of conserving wetland resource because they absorb impurities from the environment and purify air and water for our domestic use.
The events was marked by various activities including tree planting, where 100 ceremonial trees were planted and other 10,000 indigenous seedlings donated by Kenya Forest Service(KFS) and sourced from local communities were planted around the school compound. The day’s speech was delivered by the Ministry of Environment and natural resources permanent secretary representing the cabinet secretary and the county Governor. This was followed by speeches from various stakeholders and other invited guests. The core of the message pegged on how we can add value to correct and sustainable utilization of wetland resources in order to benefit more from the resource, Tourism opportunities and absorbing sediment to let out clean water.
Finally students said that they were very happy have interacted with many people from different organizations during the National celebrations for World Wetlands Day at Kipsaina Primary school Saiwa Swamp in Kitale Trans Nzoia county. Courtesy of the National Environment and Management Authority (NEMA) and expressed determination to save and preserve our wetlands for a sustainable future. “Our wetlands, our safety”. They then had delicious Lunch a courtesy of the county Government of Transnzoia and started their journey back to the University.
Last Updated on Thursday, 21 February 2019 06:20