Butiama. Tanzania and Kenya will develop a joint plan for the sustainable management of the Mara River to protect the waterway from escalating environmental degradation threats.
Currently, the two countries have separate water-use plans.
But as part of efforts to tackle the river’s degradation threats, driven largely by climate change and human activity, the two countries have decided to implement the cooperation plan..
The new initiative was announced on Saturday, September 13, 2025, in Butiama District, Mara Region.
The Lake Victoria Basin Water Board Director General, Dr Renatus Shinhu, made the announcement during the launch of Mara Day commemorations.
He said his office had been tasked with coordinating the process, and discussions were already underway.
Dr Shinhu said the joint plan will provide a coordinated framework for managing the Mara River Basin, ensuring long-term sustainability while enabling citizens of both countries to gain social and economic benefits.
He noted that the plan will cover water use for domestic purposes, farming, livestock, and other economic activities, allowing the two nations to utilise the resource without undermining one another or the wider ecosystem.
“The Mara River is vital to the ecology and biodiversity of the basin. It supports livelihoods, wildlife, and the environment. Its waters are used for agriculture, mining, livestock, and household needs. Safeguarding it is therefore essential,” he said.
He highlighted the importance of unity and joint stewardship of transboundary water resources, particularly amid mounting threats from climate change and unsustainable human activity.
Dr Shinhu also revealed that enforcement measures are already being implemented to protect the river’s sources.
“Five individuals are facing prosecution for allegedly violating environmental protection laws in water catchment areas,” he disclosed.
Speaking at the event, the Ministry of Water’s Permanent Secretary, Ms Mwajuma Waziri, said deliberate measures must be adopted to ensure the Mara River continues to benefit both present and future generations.
She emphasised the need to align water usage with the river’s natural capacity to secure its survival, while reminding communities in Tanzania and Kenya of their shared duty to protect and conserve it.
“The main challenges facing the Mara River include deforestation along its banks, illegal mining, and water pollution. These can be addressed if we act jointly,” she said.
As part of the 14th Mara Day commemorations, participants planted trees and installed boundary markers in Kirumi Village, Butiama District.
Butiama District Commissioner, Ms Thecla Mkuchika, instructed the district council to ensure the survival of the trees planted during the event.
“There is no point in planting 8,000 trees if they are not cared for. Protect and nurture them because they are vital to sustaining the river,” she said.
She also urged communities near the Mara Basin to respect demarcated boundaries and refrain from activities prohibited in conservation zones.
“We have placed markers to indicate protected areas. I am directing all residents to stop grazing livestock and conducting human activities in these areas,” she said.
