Stakeholders from Kenya and Tanzania have called for strengthened cross-border cooperation in the conservation and sustainable management of the Mara River Basin as the two countries marked the 15th anniversary of Mara Day in Bomet County.

The celebrations, held at the Bomet Green Stadium on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, brought together government officials, conservation organisations, researchers, communities, Water Resource Users Associations, development partners and other stakeholders from the two countries in bod to forge modalities for preservation of the cross-border river.

The celebrations were held under the theme “Mara River, Diverse Lives: Keep It Thriving”, emphasising the importance of the Mara River to communities, agriculture, livestock, tourism and wildlife in both Kenya and Tanzania.

Speaking during the celebrations, WWF-Kenya Manager Kevin Gichangi called for collective responsibility in protecting the Mara River, noting that activities taking place upstream in the Mau catchment area have direct effects on communities and ecosystems downstream.

Stakeholders identified deforestation, degradation of forests and wetlands, encroachment on riparian areas, pollution, unsustainable agricultural practices, increasing water abstraction and climate change as some of the major threats facing the Mara Basin.

They further called for stronger coordination between the governments of Kenya and Tanzania in managing the shared water resource, arguing that the river should be treated as one interconnected ecosystem rather than managed independently by the two countries.

Bomet Governor Prof Hillary Barchok underscored the economic importance of the Mara River, which supports agriculture, livestock keeping, tourism, wildlife and other livelihoods across the basin.

He urged members of the communities residing along the Mara catchment to uphold water and environment conservation practices to avoid degrading the river which was a source of livelihood for human and wild life.

The 15th anniversary celebrations were coordinated through the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) under the East African Community.

The four-day programme, which ran from September 12th to 15th , included environmental conservation activities such as tree planting, clean-up campaigns, exhibitions, sports and games, essay competitions and the marking of riparian setbacks.

Besides, a stakeholders’ forum was also held at Bomet University, bringing together experts and stakeholders to discuss the conservation and sustainable management of the Mara River Basin.

Participants proposed increased community involvement in conservation and the promotion of nature-based livelihoods, including initiatives such as beekeeping and bamboo production, to enable communities to benefit economically while protecting the environment.

The 15th Mara Day anniversary therefore served as a platform for Kenya and Tanzania to renew their commitment to protecting the Mara River and its wider ecosystem, with stakeholders urging faster and more coordinated action to safeguard the river for present and future generations.

by Linet Chepkemoi