An antelope rests in a swamp in Kinwal/Handout

As the world prepares to mark World Wetlands Day on February 2, Nandi county has mapped and restored more than 500 acres of wetlands, improving both water quality and quantity in the region.

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County Director of Environment and Natural Resources Dr James Meli said the achievement was guided by the Nandi County Environment, Natural Resource and Climate Change Policy, and the Wetlands Management and Conservation Policy and Act of 2021.

He said partners, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), supported the development of the policies and two wetland management plans for Kingwal and Kibirong wetlands.

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Kingwal, part of the River Kimondi–Yala basin, is a riverine wetland that is home to species such as the sitatunga antelope and cranes, but has been heavily impacted by human activity.

Kibirong, which covers more than 1,000 acres, is a source of the Yala and Nyando rivers and has been threatened by encroachment and sand harvesting. Other restored wetlands include Matambach, Tindiret, Kapkongony and Mutwot.

Meli said the reclaimed wetlands, which have been mapped, fenced and marked with beacons using resources from the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, belong to the government. He added that more wetlands would be protected, with the county targeting 1,000 acres in future. Nandi currently has more than 2,000 acres of wetlands on both private and public land.

This year, the county will mark World Wetlands Day through public awareness campaigns and tree planting as part of restoration efforts.

Globally, wetlands cover three to four per cent of Kenya’s landmass and provide critical ecosystem services, including water filtration, flood control, carbon sequestration, biodiversity support and livelihoods.

World Wetlands Day commemorates the 1971 adoption of the Ramsar Convention and highlights the role of wetlands in sustaining nature and cultural heritage. This year’s theme is “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” with Kenya’s national celebrations set to take place at Merire Wetland in Isiolo county.