21/09/2025
River Wigwa ā Kisumu: NAAM Festival organizes a river bio blitz walk with about 25 environmentalists, ecology and nature enthusiasts.
Capturing over 20 different bio diversity matter over a 1.5Km stretch.Community vows to continue the river walks bio blitz every month due to the learnings and the celebration of the remaining species while enjoying the river stories. This (happening across the world) must go on in solidarity with our rivers for awareness of our nature gifts remaining for us to enjoy and conserve avoiding further extinctions. ending with water films.
About our river:
* River Wigwa (also called River Auji) flows through Kisumu into Lake Victoria.
* Passes through areas like Nyalenda, Dunga Beach, Nanga Communities
* Highlight of what we saw:
-Lotus Flower white - Grows in pods and lake, merges in muddy water, (Scientific Name) SN- Nelumbo Nusifera
-Superb sterling bird- SN- Lamprotonis Superbus, black head, orange belly, white ring around the eye.
-Hyacinth- An invasive fireign aquatic w**d that chokes fresh water bodies off oxygen but stem are good for craft and weaving and root systems helps clean heavy metal from rivers. We met Mzee Onyango/Oldman weaving Paparus and hyacinth mats/rope making for furniture
-Hamerkop - known as Msingwe, SN- Scopus umbreta, long bill and shape of head, has brown plumage, lives in wetlands. It's sedentary.
-Burmallow plant- known as ceaser w**d. A shrub. Stem has hairs. SN Urena locate. Makes textiles and mats. Flower open in the afternoon/close at night.
-Papyrus- water purifier and craft raw material. SN Cyperus Papyrusu
10. Eucalyptus- called gum trees. Has medicinal value. High in antioxidants. Promotes relaxation. Paper production
-Lantana camara - purple_ shrub, forms dense thickets, ornamental. Berry like fruits
12. Haplochromus- cichlid species. Small fish. Ornamental fish.
-Weaverbird- SN Ploceidai. Weave the best nets.
-Pied kingfisher- SN ceryle rudis. Found near fresh water.
-20+ illegal sewer connections pouring into the innocent river. š¢š„
Plus more.....And we learnt a lot.
