Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga has sounded a stern warning to developers invading the Dunga wetlands of Lake Victoria.
Speaking during the World Wetlands Day held at Dunga Beach in Kisumu County, Wanga mentioned land grabbing as the main challenge facing the wetlands, stating the county government will not take it lightly.
“The County Government of Kisumu is on a mission to ensure the recovery of all grabbed land located in the wetlands,” he said, adding that the first step will be to bring down all the buildings found to have encroached on the wetlands.
He said the government was fully committed to the conservation of the wetlands and will restructure the sewer and drainage systems along the riparian areas.
“A city is not a city without environmental protection, and conservation of the wetlands,” he said.
The World Wetlands Day is celebrated every February 2, to create awareness about protection of wetlands.
Among the stakeholders who participated at the event were; Kisumu Water and Sanitation Company (KIWASCO), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KEMFRI), Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) and selected learning institutions.
Wanga said that Dunga’s economic value is under threat due to the encroachment, urging relevant government agencies not to approve constructions not complying with protection of the wetlands.
He also mentioned over fishing, water pollution, illegal waste disposal and overharvesting of papyrus as some of the challenges that are facing the habitat.