KECOBAT celebrates Mara Day in Narok, Maasai Mara University...

This year’s Mara Day celebration was held in Narok at Maasai Mara University. The third Mara Day Celebrations were organized by Government of Kenya and coordinated by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission Secretariat; and supported by key Tanzanian partners, the LVBC Secretariat, USAID East Africa, and the private sector.

   


Mara Day is marked annually on September 15th every year on rotational basis between Kenya and Tanzania to coincide with one of the eight wonders of the World, Wildebeest migration.

Mara River plays a critical role played by the Mara Ecosystem in supporting the survival and productivity of the Lake Victoria Basin and the surrounding regions, home and source of livelihoods to millions of people across East Africa.

This year’s event was graced by Kenyan Deputy President, Hon. William Ruto. The event attracted visitors from far and wide from the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania who share the trans-boundary Mara/Serengeti Ecosystem. The theme of this year’s celebrations “Mara Forever – Mara Milele” properly conveyed the overall underlying message which is to protect and conserve the critical ecosystem for not only the current but also for the future generations.

 The organizers had lined up activities which included entertainment, sports, tree planting and exhibitions. There were over 30 exhibition stands that were fully taken up by a wide range of exhibitors who included like WWF, Government Ministries, agencies and departments; Non-Governmental Organizations; Community Based Organizations ; Donor funded projects like Lake Victoria Environmental Management Projects from both Kenya and Tanzania etc.

KECOBAT thanks the Ministry of East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism through the Directorate of Tourism for enable it participate and exhibit during the Mara Day Celebration.

To sum up activities of the day, there were deliveries of important messages from political leaders.