Residents of Kaptalamwa in Lelan ward, Marakwet West sub-county, have been urged not to undertake any foreign activity within 30 metres from the highest water mark of the Kaptalamwa A and B wetlands, which drain their waters to Lake Victoria and Turkana, respectively.
The Elgeyo Marakwet County, NEMA Director Stephen Kimuttu said vegetation within the wetland should be left to regenerate naturally, while only indigenous trees should be planted in the riparian area.
Speaking during celebrations to mark World Wetlands Day, presided over by the Iten Senior Principal Magistrate Gladys Adhiambo, said previously wetlands were referred to as wastelands, which has led to their continued destruction, but said they were very key in terms of balancing the water cycle.
“Wetlands act like sponges, where they collect water when it rains, thus preventing flooding, while they release it slowly during the dry season, ensuring that water sources don’t dry up,” said Kimuttu.
He added that for people neighbouring wetlands, they get access to water for domestic use and their animals, including pasture, but advised them against allowing their animals to graze in the wetlands, but instead to get the pasture and water and take it to their animals to prevent pollution.
“We are also appealing to farmers, who get water from the wetlands not to dip their jerricans in to the water, but instead to use a clean jug to fetch the water to prevent pollution,” he said.
Kimuttu called on farmers whose farms include wetlands to dig terraces and plant napier grass to prevent the soils carrying chemicals from fertiliser application from being deposited to the wetlands.
“Water from the wetlands flows into rivers, with the water being used by many people downstream; hence the importance of ensuring that it remains clean,” he said.
He hailed Kaptalamwa residents for not interfering with the riparian side owned by the county government, saying the indigenous trees have remained intact and called on those under private ownership to follow suit.
The Director took issue with the contractor building the Makutano-Kaptalamwa-Kapyego road for destroying a fence built by the county government, which has exposed the wetland giving him 14 days to reconstruct the fence and collect the solid waste failure to which he will be taken to court.
Kimuttu added that the wetlands being next to a growing urban centre faced the risk of being polluted with human waste due to open sanitation.
The wetland, he said, is also a picnic site, which has resulted in plastic pollution with the picnic goers leaving plastic bottles and called on them to clean up after the visits.
On her part, the Magistrate said protection of the environment was a responsibility of all, adding that residents were free to take anyone they see destroying the environment to court.
The residents, led by Hassan Kwambai, called on the government to construct for them a water project, which will supply clean water to the area as a reward for taking care of the wetlands.
“We are also calling on the government to at least construct a class in our nearby schools and also employ our youth,” he pleaded.
By Alice Wanjiru
