Friends of Ondiri Wetlands will host a community run on January 28, 2023, at Kikuyu Sub-County to commemorate World Wetlands Day, which is observed on February 2 each year.
Ondiri Wetland, also known as Ondiri Swamp, is a protected wetland and peatbog in Kikuyu, Kiambu County.
Friends of Ondiri Wetland Kenya (FOWK) was founded in 2016 to repair and safeguard the bog; they run awareness campaigns, plant trees, and organize community activities.
World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2nd, with the goal of raising worldwide awareness of the importance of wetlands to people and the environment.
In an invite, FOWK said that the global theme of this year is “Wetlands Restoration”.
“To mark this important occasion, The Friends of Ondiri Wetland are holding a community run and are thrilled to welcome you back to Kikuyu Sub-County to join us for the run on Saturday, 28th January 2023. We would like to invite you to register for the run via the link https://www.jotform.com/assign/230170768812052/230171720206038. You can sign up for the 3K family walk/ run, 5K or 10K runs. Registration closes on the 26th of January 2023,” part of the invite read.
Listed in 2021, the project’s conservation is part of a larger initiative by the Kenyan government to reduce pollution to major waterways that provide water supply to Nairobi as part of the Thwake Dam project.
The river is also essential for greenhouse agriculture in the area. Ondiri Wetland spans 3,713,549 square feet and is home to 40 springs that supply water to the surrounding town.
This day also commemorates the signing of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar.
Since the 1700s, about 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded, and the World is losing wetlands three times faster than forests.
Wetlands, on the other hand, are crucial ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater supply, and global economies.
