BOMET, Sept 2026 —As the 15th Mara Day celebrations concluded in Bomet County, the Executive Secretary of the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), Dr Masinde Bwire, issued a resolute call for regional unity and environmental stewardship, urging Kenya and Tanzania to translate shared vision into concrete action.
“The Mara is not merely a river shared by two countries; it is a shared ecological, economic and social heritage whose protection requires shared responsibility and collective action,” Dr Bwire told a gathering of officials from both nations.
While celebrating the basin’s cultural and ecological significance, sustaining over 1.5 million migratory animals, Dr Bwire warned of mounting pressures from climate change and deforestation.
He urged stakeholders to move beyond isolated interventions towards coordinated transboundary solutions.
Reflecting on the theme “Mara River, Diverse Lives: Keep It Thriving,” he insisted the celebrations must mark a beginning, not an end. “Let it become a covenant for action,” he said, calling on both countries to ensure the river flows for future generations.
During a Stakeholder’s forum, the two nations identified threats and proposed urgent measures with clear, actionable strategies.
At the Mara River Basin Stakeholder Engagement Forum, held alongside the celebrations, participants flagged deforestation, riparian encroachment, unsustainable agriculture, pollution and growing water abstraction as urgent threats.
Climate change, droughts, floods, human-wildlife conflict, weak enforcement and inadequate transboundary coordination were also identified as critical concerns.
The stakeholders proposed restoring degraded catchments, particularly the Mau Forest Complex; mobilising sustainable financing; promoting Integrated Water Resources Management; and scaling up climate-resilient livelihoods.
They called for stronger enforcement, inclusive community participation, especially of women and youth and innovative incentives such as Payment for Ecosystem Services.
Strengthened Kenya-Tanzania cooperation through policy harmonisation and joint planning was emphasised, with the rallying message of renewed efforts for restoration.
Dr Bwire welcomed continued investments in conservation, climate resilience, community livelihoods and scientific research.
“As we look to the future, we must increasingly prioritise investments that deliver lasting, measurable and sustainable results,” he said.
He stressed that the river’s fate rests on decisions made today. “If we protect its catchment, restore degraded ecosystems, safeguard water rights, reduce pollution, promote climate-smart actions and empower communities, the Mara can continue to support life, biodiversity and livelihoods for generations to come.”
The executive secretary emphasized the need to create partnerships that will translate into results, guaranteeing protection of the Mara River and lives.
