Once towering with indigenous trees and aquatic reeds, a perfect sanctuary of rare Sitatunga antelopes, Kingwal swamp in Nandi County is a now pale shadow of its former self.

For the past two months, fire outbreaks have been witnessed on its fringes, which has made the largest water catchment keep getting narrower day by day.

A visitor to the area is greeted by clouds of dark smoke hovering on King’wal area, from fires that are threatening the fragile ecosystem.

The locals have encroached into the peripheral areas and turned it into grazing fields and farms.

A spot check by People Daily reveals that residents living along the swamp have invaded the sections of the riparian land including Mateget, Kapchumba, Kimondi and Kapkong’any.

Human fires

Patrick Kimutai, one of the residents living along Kingwal swamp revealed that some farmers have caused fires to eliminate reeds and pave way for agricultural activities ahead of the onset of rains in the region.

“It has been challenging to the security apparatus as some residents light fires late in the evening away from the human settlements,” said Kimutai.

The degradation of the water tower has had devastating ripple effects on the rare Sitatunga, a species to which the 20 kilometre-square area with lush reeds that harbour streams that are feeding the Kimondi River in Chesumei has been home.

Initially, the county government imposed a water catchment policy that banned agricultural activities and planting of Eucalyptus trees along the swampy area.

However, security laxity has creeped in and the locals have started encroaching on parcels of land reserved for Sitatunga sanctuary.
Some of the Sitatungas have migrated to the neighbouring marshy areas including Kipsamoite forest and private lands, with experts warning that the vulnerable semi-aquatic herbivores are on the brink of extinction.

It is estimated that between January and February, over 50 acres of land have been destroyed by fires.

Destroyed habitats

Among the affected areas include Kimondi, Kapchumba and Belekenya, the sections of Kingwal swamp suspected to have been set ablaze by the locals.

The community scouts claim that the fires have destroyed the Sitatunga habitat and exposed them to external attacks including dogs and hunters.

A scout, who preferred anonymity, said there have been unreported cases of poaching in the community and no legal action have been taken against the perpetrators.

“We fear that there is a significant decline of the Sitatunga population, they are no longer seen in most of the areas where they normally graze. They have migrated while others are illegally poached. Their meat is believed to be delicious,” he said.

According to the 2021 National Wildlife Census report, Kenya had 473 Sitatunga. Kingwal swamp is home to 120 living in the marshy stretch of about 250 acres.

County efforts

Nandi County Lands and Physical Planning and Environment Executive Alfred Lagat while visiting the affected areas said that encroachment of wetlands poses adverse effects to the wildlife and environment in the region.

He admitted that the security lapse has caused violation of environment protection measures in the community.

“It is alarming that dozens of Sitatungas have migrated to private lands as a result of environmental degradation activities. We urge the residents to exercise extreme caution while using fire, particularly during the prevailing dry season and strong winds,” said Lagat.

According to Nandi Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) senior warden Augustine Lang’at, investigation is ongoing to bring to book the suspects behind wildfires along swampy areas.

“We cannot establish the magnitude to which the Sitatungas’ population is affected at the moment until we do our own survey. We have urged our security teams to remain vigilant and report any encroachment cases,” said Langat.