Kenya Crane Festival Calls for Stronger Action to Protect Cranes and Wetlands

Trans Nzoia County officials flag off the 3km walk to kick-start the Kenya Crane Festival on Sept. 25, 2026. Photos by Jim Ongowo/International Crane Foundation 

KITALE, Kenya. Sept. 25, 2026. More than 300 pupils from 18 schools took to the streets of Kitale on Friday as the Kenya Crane Festival brought together communities, conservationists, and county leaders to celebrate the Grey Crowned Crane and call for stronger protection of the wetlands on which the endangered bird depends.

The 3km march through Kitale town was flagged off by Trans Nzoia County Secretary Truphosa Amere at the county government offices, with pupils carrying conservation messages and raising awareness about the need for people and cranes to coexist.

The festival, jointly hosted by the International Crane Foundation and the County Government of Trans Nzoia, also featured skits by drama troupes and dance competitions by school pupils promoting peaceful coexistence with cranes and urging farmers to use non-violent methods to disperse birds from their farms.

Thespians perform a skit advocating for the protection of the Grey Crowned Crane.

The message comes against the backdrop of a steep long-term decline in Kenya’s Grey Crowned Crane population. The 2023 national census estimated Kenya’s population at between 8,500 and 10,500 birds, compared with historical estimates of about 35,000 in the 1980s.

At the festival, International Crane Foundation East Africa Regional Director Dr. Adalberto Aine-Omucunguzi called for closer collaboration between the county government, the Foundation, and other conservation organisations to safeguard wetlands and crane populations.

He said protecting cranes requires protecting the ecosystems that sustain them, while ensuring communities have practical ways of living alongside the birds.

Trans Nzoia is an important stronghold for Grey Crowned Cranes. The 2023 national census recorded 830 cranes in the county, representing about 10 percent of Kenya’s recorded population.

A key highlight of the festival was the signing of an agreement between the County Government of Trans Nzoia and the International Crane Foundation, strengthening their commitment to work together on crane and wetland conservation.

The partnership seeks to deepen conservation action while promoting greater awareness among communities, particularly farmers who share landscapes with cranes.

International Crane Foundation Kenya staff gather after signing an agreement with the County Government of Trans Nzoia to strengthen their commitment to working together on crane and wetland conservation.

The festival provided a platform for young people to take an active role in conservation, with the participating pupils and artists using drama, messages, and the march to highlight the importance of protecting cranes and wetlands.

As the festival brought together government, conservation organisations, schools, and communities, one message stood out: protecting the crane also means protecting the wetlands and the people whose lives depend on them.