The diminishing wetland of Manguo in Limuru; What needs to be done.

Written by: Hussein Waiyaki

When land meets water, life abounds and flourishes. Wetlands exist in every corner of this magnificent planet and have often been referred to as the arteries and veins of the Earth. Majestic and mighty, and lovely, wetlands are a sight to behold. They support critical ecosystems and biodiversity; in fact according to Ramsar, 40 per cent of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands. Wetlands are crucial to agriculture, fisheries water for life and even a supplement for grounds water. They act as water sources and purifiers, and they protect our shores. Peatland wetlands are the planet’s greatest natural carbon stores.

Despite their importance, nearly 90 per cent of the world’s wetlands have been degraded or lost to date, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Therefore, there is an urgent need to raise global awareness on wetlands to reverse their rapid loss and to encourage the restoration and conservation of these vital ecosystems.

World Wetlands Day, established by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution 75/317 of 30 August 2021, is celebrated on 2 February each year to raise awareness and increase people’s understanding of the critical importance of wetlands. The adoption of the resolution was an important moment for the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (the Ramsar Convention), as it reaffirmed that wetlands are critical for people and nature and essential to achieving sustainable development. The Convention is part of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030), which is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has as its objective to massively scale up the restoration of degraded or destroyed wetland ecosystems. The Decade also aims to use restoration to address issues related to the climate crisis, food and water security, biodiversity loss and other elements that are integral to the SDGs.

Manguo Swamp is an essential freshwater wetland situated along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, close to Limuru town, just a short 35-minute drive from the heart of Nairobi. The term “Manguo” comes from Swahili, which translates to clothes, or in a local tongue, it alludes to hipposrecognizing the creatures that used to flourish in this region before the rise of urban development drove them away.

This periodic wetland is crucial for managing water flow, mitigating floods, and replenishing underground water reserves. Wetlands like Manguo act as nature’s water tanks, soaking up rainfall, alleviating the effects of droughts, and promoting diverse ecosystems. They sequester more carbon than all other types of ecosystems, making them extremely vital for climate adaptation and resilience.

Manguo swamp calls for an urgent intervention and action to restore its glory. Voices of Change has led the cause, but it’s a journey that seek everyone to partake, to participate, partner, and to collaborate. It is a tangible mission requiring collaborations and sustained efforts. The engagements from our previous event shows a community goodwill to come together to save the place; however much needs to be done to resolve and protect the vital natural resource.