Ondiri Wetland or Ondiri Swamp is a protected wetland and peatbog that is the source of the

Nairobi River The Nairobi River is a river that flows across Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. It is the main river of the Nairobi River Basin, with several parallel streams flowing eastward. All of the Nairobi basin rivers join east of Nairobi and meet the A ...

near

Kikuyu, Kenya Kikuyu is a town in Kiambu County, Kenya, which grew from a settlement of colonial missionaries. The town is located about northwest of central Nairobi. It is about 20 minutes from Nairobi via a number of routes, including a dual carriage ro ...

Kiambu County Kiambu County is a county in the former Central Province of Kenya. Its capital is Kiambu and its largest town is Thika. Kiambu County is the second most populous after Nairobi County. Kiambu County borders Nairobi and Kajiado Counties to the S ...

. The wetland is under pressure because of

water extraction Water extraction (or water withdrawal) is the process of taking water from any source, either temporarily or permanently, for flood control or to obtain water for, for example, irrigation. The extracted water could also be used as drinking wate ...

deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated ...

and accelerated erosion. 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 waterway is also important for local greenhouse agriculture. Ondiri Wetland covers 3,713,549 square feet and is a source to 40 springs, which provide water to the local community. Ondiri was heavily polluted with pesticides and dumping. In 2004, a study found as few as 41 bird species. Around 2020, there were 76 species of birds living in Ondiri. In 2016, the Friends of Ondiri Wetland Kenya (FOWK) was established to rehabilitate and protect the bog; they run awareness campaigns, plant trees, and hold community events. . "The biggest challenge I face is convincing people about the importance of the wetland. And in awareness creation, you convert polluters into consververs," says David Wakogi, co-creator of this FOWK in a documentary about his work. Wakogi says there are now 76 species of birds in the wetland, compared to a 2004 assessment of 44 species. Kenya's 2022 national celebration of World Wetland Day was held in Ondiri to highlight the importance of the country's largest highland bog. "More than 10,000 seedlings have been planted in the swamp through efforts of Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and NEMA. I am happy to report that the survival rate of the seedling is very impressive,” stated Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Forestry Mr Keriako Tobiko.

References

{{Kenya-stub Kiambu County