Siaya: Siaya County will adopt three wetlands as part of the efforts to protect them from degradation.
According to Kenya News Agency, the County Executive Committee Member for Water and Environment, Professor Jacqueline Oduol, announced that Kanyaboli, Yala, and Yimbo wetlands will benefit from special conservation efforts by the devolved government. These efforts aim to enable the wetlands to continue playing their crucial role in regulating the environment.
Prof. Oduol made the announcement at Kombo Beach along the shores of Lake Kanyaboli during the World Wetlands Day celebrations. She was representing the local governor, James Orengo, at the event. During her address, she urged Siaya residents to take environmental conservation seriously to combat the negative effects of climate change. She emphasized the county government’s commitment to the restoration efforts of Lake Kanyaboli, Africa’s largest oxbow lake, which experienced a significant loss of fish last year after a dike burst.
The event, hosted by the Kanyaboli Site Support Group, also featured remarks from the county executive committee member for agriculture, Sylvestre K’okoth. He warned residents living around the wetlands against burning papyrus reeds, highlighting that papyrus absorbs carbon that is hazardous to human health. K’okoth emphasized the long-term impact of increased carbon in the atmosphere, linking it to a rise in cancer and related diseases. He called for collective efforts to protect the Yala swamp ecosystem and other wetlands as they are vital sources of agricultural production.
Kenya Wildlife Service warden Eunice Mutunga also addressed the gathering, expressing concern over the destruction of the Lake Kanyaboli and Yala swamp ecosystems. She challenged locals to embrace conservation practices and encouraged those interested in domesticating wildlife to obtain permits and information from their offices. The occasion was attended by officials from the Kenya Forest Service and the National Environment Management Authority.
