Preparations to host the 15th Mara Day Celebrations in Bomet County are complete.
The annual event, organized by the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), is scheduled for September 12 to 15 2026.
The celebrations will feature a range of build-up activities aimed at promoting conservation, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.
These will include exhibitions by conservation organizations, tree-planting activities, installation of beacons to mark riparian setbacks in the Mara River Basin, sports and games, essay-writing competitions and awards, and clean-up campaigns.
The activities will commence on 12th September 2026.
A Stakeholders’ Forum will be held on September 14, 2026 at Bomet University, bringing together key actors involved in the conservation and sustainable management of the Mara River Basin.
The forum will precede the main Mara Day celebrations on 15th September 2026 at Bomet Stadium.
This year’s theme, “Mara River, Diverse Lives: Keep It Thriving,” translated in Swahili as (Mto Mara, Uhai wa Viumbe, Tuuutunze), highlights the Mara River and the diverse life it supports while issuing a clear call to action to protect and sustain the ecosystem.
LVBC Executive Secretary Dr. Masinde Bwire said several high-level dignitaries, including Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers responsible for relevant sectors from Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania, are expected to attend the celebrations.
He noted that a series of meetings involving representatives and stakeholders from the two EAC Partner States had been held as part of preparations for the important event.
“A series of meetings between representatives and stakeholders from the two EAC Partner States have been held to prepare for this important event, whose aim is to create awareness and promote the conservation of the Mara ecosystem,” said Dr. Bwire.
Mara Day is observed annually by the East African Community (EAC) Partner States to raise awareness of the conservation and sustainable management of the Mara River Basin.
The celebrations bring together government officials, conservation organizations, local communities, development partners, researchers, students, and other stakeholders to promote environmental stewardship and regional cooperation.
The Mara Ecosystem is one of the most important ecosystems within the Lake Victoria Basin.
It supports rich biodiversity, tourism, and the livelihoods of millions of people across the region. Recognizing its significance, the 10th Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin, held on May 4, 2012 in Kigali, Rwanda, declared September 15 as Mara Day.
The date coincides with the annual Great Wildebeest Migration between Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The Lake Victoria Basin Commission coordinates the annual Mara Day celebrations on a rotational basis among the EAC Partner States.
The 14th Mara Day was hosted by Tanzania in Butiama District, Mara Region, in 2025.
Beyond celebrating the shared Mara–Serengeti ecosystem, Mara Day has served as a platform for strengthening transboundary cooperation.
Notable achievements include the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kenya and Tanzania on the management of the Mara River Basin’s transboundary water resources and the establishment of the Mara River Transboundary Water Users’ Forum. Kenya’s hosting of the 15th edition reaffirms the country’s commitment to regional environmental conservation and the sustainable management of one of East Africa’s most iconic ecosystems.
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