Murang’a Wetlands and Riparian Areas policy that seeks to enhance environmental conservation has been adopted.
The policy seeks to conserve the environment by managing water resources effectively and sustainably.
In the report tabled by the Chairperson of Energy, Environment, Forestry and Natural Resources committee, Diana Muthoni, overgrazing and planting of non-friendly trees interfere with the sustainable use of riparian and wetlands areas.
Muthoni said that riparian areas like Kimathi have been affected by farming activities and the Mwiria stream dried up after the marsh areas were cleared to pave the way for farming.
“Reclamation and conversion of wetlands and riparian areas for agricultural development and human settlement is one of the biggest threats to conservation and management of such areas,” Muthoni said.
“These activities have led to the decline of the quality of water sources in Murang'a thereby reducing the value and biodiversity within the wetlands,” she said.
To enhance and maintain social and economic activities, the nominated member of the county assembly underscored the need to come up with a policy and legal framework for wetland and riparian areas within Murang'a.
Gaichanjiru MCA, John Kamau, seconded the motion and urged people living in such areas to plant bamboo and other native species to safeguard the quality of water resources and reduce continued encroachment.
“The people neighbouring riparian areas should plant bamboo and other native species of flora to safeguard those areas,” Kamau said.
The report urged the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Environment and Natural Resources, to allocate funds for sensitisation on climate change and the importance of wetlands and riparian land conservation.
Further, the CECM was asked to come up with reforestation and restoration programs around public wetlands and work with state agencies like NEMA and Warma to provide technical support for these programs.
