UoN and Government Agencies intensify campaign on the Conservation of Ondiri Wetland
Ondiri Swamp, Kenya’s largest highland bog and the critical source of the Nairobi River, was the focus of a massive tree-planting and clean-up exercise on Mazingira Day which 12,000 trees were planted in line with national public holiday dedicated to environmental conservation. The event, held under the national theme of "Citizen-Centric Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship," saw hundreds of residents, conservationists, University of Nairobi and government officials unite in a bid to fortify the wetland against decades of degradation.
The day’s activities were palpable, underscored by the swamp’s perilous state. Ondiri, which translates from the colonial 'Old Lake', has been suffering from encroachment, illegal water abstraction, and pollution from surrounding agricultural activity, threatening its unique ecosystem and water provision to both local communities and the capital city, Nairobi.
Mazingira Day a national public holiday in Kenya dedicated to environmental conservation and tree growing. The national focus this year was on planting 100 million fruit trees in primary schools, the Ondiri event combined this goal with a crucial drive to restore the bog’s riparian buffer zone.
The local conservation group, the University of Nairobi, (UoN) and Friends of Ondiri Wetland Kenya (FOWK), led the charge, overseeing the planting of thousands of indigenous seedlings and bamboo along the swamp's 3.3-kilometer perimeter. "We are not just planting trees; we are planting an insurance policy for our water security," stated David Wakogeh, the founder of FOWK. "Ondiri is a peat bog, storing more carbon than a typical forest, and it recharges the boreholes for this entire area. Every tree we plant today, especially the water-friendly indigenous species, helps stabilize the peat and filter pollutants before they reach the main water body."The word "Mazingira" It's a day all Kenyans are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and participate in activities that heal and protect the planet, we are dealing with those who are dumping sewage into the rivers, kikuyu Member of National Assembly. Anthony Kimani Ichung'wah stated,
He further emphasized, this community-led initiative, marked a critical shift from government-only enforcement to citizen-driven stewardship. Several riparian farmers, who have historically been contributors to the pollution through chemical-intensive agriculture, publicly pledged to transition to regenerative and organic farming practices. He highlighted, this shift is seen as vital to curb the flow of harmful pesticides and fertilizers into the bog.
Ondiri has been a ‘tragedy of the commons’,” noted Dr. Eng. Festus K. Ng’eno, Principal Secretary, State Department for Environment and Climate Change in Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry. “Today proves that through education and engagement, the common people can become the swamp’s most effective protectors. The fight is far from over, but the community’s commitment is the strongest it has ever been.”
Mohamed Moulid Shurie, OGW, MBS. Water Resources Authority (WRA) used the occasion to reaffirm the government’s commitment to fencing the entire wetland and its gazettement as a protected area, a long-term goal for conservationists.
Hundreds of Primary, Secondary School and the University of Nairobi students participated in both the tree planting and a major clean-up drive. They were tasked with taking additional fruit tree seedlings home, effectively extending the environmental protection zone into the wider community.
Conservationists hope that the Mazingira Day push will galvanize sustained efforts to protect Ondiri, which is not only the headwaters of a major river but also a sanctuary for 76 recorded bird species, making its survival a matter of national ecological and economic importance.
