His Excellency the Governor of Bomet County, Isaac Ruto
His Excellency the Governor of Narok County, Samuel Ole Tunai
His Excellency the Governor of Meru County and Chairperson of the Council of Governors
Dr. Charles Ongessa Mlingwa, Mara Regional Commissioner, United Republic of Tanzania
Hon. Eugene Wamalwa, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Water and Irrigation
Prof Fred Segor, Principal Secretary, National Water Services, Ministry of Water and Irrigation
Ms. Betty Maina, Principal Secretary for East Africa Affairs
Representatives of the People of the Mara River Basin,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning. I am honored to be with you to celebrate the world-famous wildlife and landscape that surrounds us here today.

The Mara-Serengeti ecosystem has significant socio-economic benefits not only for Kenya and Tanzania, but also for the entire East Africa Region. This basin supports the livelihoods of more than one million people by providing critical biodiversity and ecosystem services such as water supply, agriculture, and livestock and fisheries production. The basin is also home to some of the world’s most iconic and magnificent wildlife in the world, an important part of the economy and tourism industry.

And yet it faces significant challenges to its survival, including unplanned growth, human encroachment, and climate change. Mara Day is a great example of how these regional problems can be addressed through the spirit of working together for a common cause. I commend you all for working tirelessly to conserve this critical landscape for current and future generations.

Over the last five years, Mara Day has grown bigger and better, attracting local, regional, and international participants. This would not have been possible without the strong leadership shown by key stakeholders in the region. The leadership that the East African Community (EAC) and the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) have shown in the management of transboundary natural resources in the region is a model to emulate. I am also pleased to note the participation of the Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission here from Botswana. This is in the true spirit of intra-regional cooperation and sharing of best practices amongst African River Basin organizations.

I also take this opportunity to commend the governments of Kenya and Tanzania for their signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the joint management of the Transboundary Mara River Basin during the 4th Mara Day held last year in Tanzania. USAID is proud to have supported this milestone agreement, which provides the framework for the first transboundary river basin organization within East Africa. It is a fantastic example of a mutual commitment to manage shared water resources in East Africa.

USAID will continue to support innovation and collaboration in the region’s conservation efforts. In September 2015, we awarded a new assistance program to The Nature Conservancy and their partner, the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancy Association, to support the successful development of community conservation in the Mara. Our regional programs, like the Planning for Resilience in East Africa through Policy, Adaptation, Research, and Economic Development, known as the PREPARED project, will also continue your efforts manage this critical and important river basin.

Additionally, I am pleased to inform you that USAID’s first ever five-year Regional Development Cooperation Strategy for East Africa has been approved. In it, we affirm our commitment to enhancing East African-led sustainable economic growth and resilience, while also deepening our partnerships with important regional organizations such as the EAC.

Finally, I wish to take this opportunity to convey my sincere condolences to the people of Kenya for the loss of one of your great national leaders from Narok County, the late Honorable William Ole Ntimama. He will be greatly missed. In addition to serving as Kenya’s Minister for National Heritage and a representative of the people of Narok in the National Parliament, he was a dedicated advocate of environmental conservation who stood for the protection of the Mau Forest, where the Mara River originates. Cherishing and protecting these natural resources will honor his memory. To quote Kenya’s own Wangari Maathai, “We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath our children a sustainable world that benefits all.”

Mara Day is a perfect example of what can be accomplished through true regional cooperation. I take this opportunity to reiterate USAID’s commitment to tackling the region’s most pressing environment and conservation challenges, and look forward to deepening our partnerships in the future.

Asante Sana.