World Wetlands Day is commemorated annually on 2nd February since 1971, to mark the Day the Ramsar Convention was signed in Iran. These commemorations aim to raise public awareness and consciousness about the benefits and challenges facing wetlands.
Each year, the Ramsar Secretariat year circulates a theme. Therefore, the theme for World Wetlands Day 2025 was “Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future” to emphasize the connection between wetland conservation and a sustainable future, highlighting the importance of these threatened ecosystems in maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity.
NEMA Coordinates the national celebrations in collaboration with Government Institutions, Civil Society, Private Sector, and County Governments. This year, NEMA and Kiambu County leadership organized the national event at Ondiri Wetland.
On the 1st of February 2025, the World Wetlands Day celebrations took place at the Alliance High School rugby grounds in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. Principal Secretary Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno honored the NECC exhibition booth with his presence, accompanied by Mr. Mamo B. Mamo, Director General of NEMA.
The 4th Edition of the Ondiri Wetland Conservation Run and Awarding Ceremony was presided over by the PS Dr. Eng. Ng’eno.
The 4th Edition of the Ondiri Wetland Conservation Run
On the 2nd of February 2025, Hon. Godana Doyo, NECC Chairman, joined Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno for the official launch and flag-off of the band procession to Ondiri Wetland.
Official launch and flag-off
The event included a guided tour of the wetland and a tree-planting session to commemorate the occasion.
During the main event at Alliance High School rugby grounds, Ps. Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno stated, “Happy World Wetlands Day! Today we take stock of our efforts and actions in protecting and restoring wetland ecosystems in the country under this year’s global theme, ‘Protecting wetlands for our common future.’
The ecological integrity of wetlands is suffering due to pollution, invasive species, agriculture, unsustainable use, disrupted flow regimes, and climate change.
These statistics do not leave out Ondiri wetland, which has continued to witness threats such as cultivation within the riparian land, effluent discharge, solid waste dumping, and constant burning, leading to its degradation.
Towards this end, the government is committed to fast-track the gazettement of the Ondiri swamp as a wetland as we commence the process of securing it as a Ramsar site of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Consequently, under the Adopt a Wetland framework, we encourage the public to wetland countrywide to enhance their restoration and conservation through the establishment of lead champions for wetland conservation.
I’m honoured to have represented my CS Hon. Aden Duale during this year’s World Wetlands Day national event at Ondiri Wetland in Kikuyu, Kiambu County.”
Ps. Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno during his speech
