By Okong’o Oduya
Sio – siteko swamp that is found between Kenya and Uganda border is set to benefit from a conservation project .
Nile basin Initiative has partnered with Deutsche Gesellschaft for International Zusammenarbeitt (GIZ) a Germany organization to conserve the wetland under a program called Nile equatorial lakes wasteland program that stopped in 2009.
The wetland , traversing Busia and Samia Districts in both Kenya and Uganda and is part of the catchment area that covers 35,000 hectares of land with river Sio, River Malakisi and Malaba respectively.
Sio-Siteko is the wetland found between Kenya and Uganda border in Busia County that plays an important role by supplying water in Lake Victoria besides serving as an important habitat for animals and over 300 bird species including the endangered grey crowned crane.
The wetland , known for breeding habitat for several bird species including , the blue swallow bird that migrates all the way from South Africa during the breeding season mostly between April and September every year due to its vast area and conducive environment that favors the bird.
Assessment done so far shows that there are only 1500 breeding pairs of Blue Swallows remaining for their entire African breeding distribution range, and Sio siteko wetland is among them.
The wetland however is now facing myriad of challenges including cultivation, sand harvesting, poor sewerage disposal, car- washing on the shores of the wetlands and encroachment on the water sources are among others that have resulted into degradation.
According to the head of water program at the Nile basin initiative based in Kigali Andy Mutola the program will take place in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Democratic republic of Congo and South Sudan will benefit from 6 Million euro that will help restoring various wetlands within the said countries.
“We are here because Sio Siteko is a trans boundary wetland that is shared between Kenya and Uganda and the interventions that we are implementing under this project is that we update the community management plan which was developed in 2009 and then develop investment packages,” said Mutola.
He says the wetland requires an immediate intervention because the situation is worsening daily. The program is expected to start in November 2018 and it will run up to 2021, which will comprise carrying out studies before they embark on the major project.
“The project is starting in November and it is going to run up to March 2020 in terms of the studies but the implementation of the activity will run up to march 2021,” he said .
In a media briefing after meeting Busia County governor Sospeter ojaamong in Busia ,Juan Carlos Sanchez an advisor at trans boundary Wetland Management in the Nile Basin noted that they will work closely with the County government of Busia and the local communities to make sure that the program works for the benefit of the wetland.
“Together with the communities we will prioritize those activities and give grants for them to implement some conservation measures to ensure that the wetland is conserved.” said Mr. Carlos
The team proceeded to Uganda where they promised to meet Ugandan Busia residence District commissioner Husseni Matanda to have a talk with him on the measures they have in place in conserving wetland.
Busia county governor Hon Sospeter Ojaamong welcomed the move adding that this project will not only save the wetland from the degradation caused by the human pressure, it will offer an opportunity for the community to learn the importance of taking care of their ecosystem.
