Preparations for the 14th Mara Day celebrations have been finalized.
The annual event will take place from 12th to 15th September 2025 in Butiama District, Mara Region, in the United Republic of Tanzania.
This year’s theme is: “Protect Mara River: Preserve Life”, translated into Swahili as “Hifadhi Mto Mara: Linda Uhai.”
Planned activities include a scientific conference, tree planting, exhibitions, and competitions.
Representatives from the relevant ministries of both the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Kenya, together with other stakeholders, have been holding weekly meetings to finalize the event’s modalities.
To date, the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) has received over 60 abstracts from presenters in the
Republic of Kenya, Republic of Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Norway.
The scientific conference, which will take place on 14th September 2025 at the Mwalimu Nyerere University of Agriculture and Technology.
The conference is expected to attract researchers, scientists, and members of the academic community from the region.
The climax of the event will be on 15th September 2025 at the Mwenge grounds in Butiama town.
Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries from the relevant ministries both in the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania are expected to grace the occasion
LVBC Executive Secretary, Dr. Masinde Bwire said , ‘this event is important because it raises awareness and promotes the sustainable management of the Mara River Basin, a vital transboundary resource shared by Kenya and Tanzania.”
The Mara Ecosystem is one of the most critical ecosystems within the Lake Victoria Basin, supporting a wide range of economic, environmental, and social activities, including tourism.
Recognizing its significance, the 10th Sectoral Council of Ministers for Lake Victoria Basin, held on May 4th, 2012, in Kigali, Rwanda, declared September 15th of each year as Mara Day, coinciding with the great wildlife migration from Serengeti National Park (Tanzania) to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve (Kenya).
The Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) coordinates the celebrations on a rotational basis among East African Community (EAC) partner states. In 2024, the Republic of Kenya hosted the 13th Mara Day in Sekenani, Narok County.
Mara Day serves as a platform to recognize and safeguard the ecological and socio-economic importance of the shared Mara–Serengeti ecosystem.
Notable achievements from past celebrations include, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kenya and Tanzania on transboundary water resources management for the Mara River Basin and the formation of the Mara River Transboundary Water Users’ Forum