The illegal activities at the Ondiri Wetland in Kiambu county have diminished after it was fenced off.
Before the fence, farmers with greenhouses used to extract water from the wetland for their crops.
Chemicals from the greenhouses also polluted the wetland.
However, they have since stopped following concerted efforts by conservationists. Clean water is now oozing from the wetland.
The Ondiri Wetland is one of the sources of the Nairobi River.
Friends of Ondiri Wetland coordinator David Wakogy said a lot of efforts have turned around the wetland.
“We have planted indigenous trees to ensure that Ondiri regains its lost glory,” Wakogy said.
He said a lot is planned in order to improve the experience of those who will visit the swamp.
A botanical nursery is being set up, he said, during the tour of the swamp last week.
A souvenir shop, a toilet and snack shops are also ready.
Wakogy said the Kiambu county, Kenya Forest Research Institute, the National Environment Management Authority and Water Resources Authority has contributed to the improvement of the swamp.
During the tour, Wakogy was accompanied by Samuel Muoria from Ecopro Initiative, a community-based organisation, Sam Dindi from Mazingira yetu organisation and Samuel Ng'ang'a, the co-founder of Ecopro Initiative.
In March, Environment Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko said the wetland will be gazetted to protect it from pollution.
He said the swamp is an important source of water for the people around it and the government is keen on protecting it.
Tobiko spoke during a virtual meeting with the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Lands to deliberate on a petition concerning the gazettement of Ondiri Wetland.
"Measures have been put in place to stop industries, horticultural farms, and farming activities along the swamp."
The CS said the Ministry is seeking to restore the swamp by calling for the cancellation of title deeds of individuals who had encroached on the wetlands and planting bamboo trees.
Tobiko said the discharge of both solid and liquid waste has been stopped.
Wakogy said the wetland is an important ecosystem not only for the residents but also for the country.
“It is a source of the biggest river basin we have in Kenya and, at the same time, it is the support system for so many lives," he said.
"By protecting it, it will mean our people can have an ecosystem that is conserved and well restored,” he said.
Wakogy said the protection will ensure that the government sets aside some funds for conserving it.
The 3.7 km fencing was done by Water Resource Authority at a cost of Sh4 million and 7,000 trees, which are friendly to water sources, were planted.
Wakogy said the importance of the wetland to the people of Nairobi is that it recharges water tables.
“This wetland is the recharge of Kikuyu springs which is the oldest source of piped water for the city of Nairobi which was connected in 1906,” he said.
Wakogy said the Kikuyu springs has been the most reliable source of water for Nairobi since time immemorial.
“When we conserve the source, we are also supporting lives downstream and ensure that there is no contamination that is getting into water.”
Dindi on his part said the wetland used to be an open lake and it did not have reeds.
However, due to ecological processes and soil erosion, it was covered by soil and colonised by vegetation.
Dindi said in 19th and 20th century, there was a lot of encroachment around the wetland.
“People started growing crops around the wetland, some abstracted water without any fear. They were just doing it for the sake of doing it as they never understood the ecological value of this place,” he said.
Dindi said the friends on Ondiri have been working round the clock to make the community understand the value of the wetland.
“We informed them (community) on the role they need to play to restore this wetland. As of last year, they embraced the idea," Dindi said.
"They agreed that this area needs to be fenced and we are glad that the national government, through the Water Resource Authority, fenced it to prevent further encroachment."
Dindi said the land owners who have planted Eucalyptus trees voluntarily agreed to cut down the trees.
Eucalyptus trees are thirsty, draw a lot of water and grow fast, often drying streams. They are used for windbreaks and telephone poles.
They can only be grown at least 50 metres from water.
Dindi said plans are underway to ensure that all Eucalyptus trees are uprooted from next year and replaced by indigenous trees. “Currently, the community is very supportive," he said.
"We are looking forward to work with those who are cultivating around the wetland so that they can embrace conservation kind of agriculture that does not use a lot of chemicals and fertilisers,” Dindi said.
Ng'ang'a, on his part, said there are a lot of ecotourism activities in the wetland that will benefit locals.
“There are a lot of birds that come and survive here. Last year, Nature Kenya identified over 100 species of birds. We have crested crane and other species,” he said.
Ng'ang'a said they are working towards having nature trails within the wetland.
On Tuesday last week, Nema director general Mamo Mamo said the gazettement of the wetland was at advanced stage.
Conservationists have been pushing the government to gazette it with a view to restoring its lost glory.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
