- Waiguru said currently the drought situation in Kenya has continued to worsen in 20 of the 23 arid and semi-arid lands counties.
- This has been attributed to failure of four consecutive rain seasons with a projected 4.35 million people estimated to be affected by October 2022.
Image: CoG CHAIR/TWITTER
Unless significant steps to reverse effects of greenhouse gas emissions are taken, the drought situation in the country may continue to intensify, Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru has said.
Waiguru said none is certain what impact climate change would have on future food supplies in counties and thus local communities need to be supported to help in the creation of green investments.
Speaking in Nairobi during a round table on climate action with the UN deputy secretary general and chairperson of the UN Sustainable Development Group Amina Mohammed, the governor urged the global agency to prioritise extending support to counties to develop county climate innovation hubs.
She said the innovation hubs would support youth and women's contribution to climate change adaption and mitigation.
“We acknowledge your visit to Kenya as you lead the run-up to Conference of Parties to harness the Africa collective call and actions in the wake of ecological and climate emergency as well as voice the national aspirations on climate action,” she said.
Waiguru said counties' focus on climate action has been necessitated by the adverse impact of climate change on livelihoods and partnership would help draw a climate compatible development pathway essential towards unlocking Kenya's potential since sectors of the economy are climate sensitive.
Currently, she said, the drought situation in Kenya has continued to worsen in 20 of the 23 arid and semi-arid lands (Asal) counties. This has been attributed to failure of four consecutive rain seasons with a projected 4.35 million people estimated to be affected by October 2022.
The CoG chairperson said due to climate change, marginalised and vulnerable communities in counties are now facing greater difficulties, from extreme weather which is manifesting as droughts, floods, landslides and cold snaps, among others.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that Africa is highly vulnerable and adversely impacted by climate change, with reported increase in diseases and pests and hotter temperatures.
“County governments are assigned specific functions and responsibilities, including implementation of national policies on environment, climate change, natural resources management, forestry, soil and water conservation and disaster risk management,” she said.
Waiguru said the counties have constrained financial and human capacity to address the overwhelming challenges of climate change and, therefore, need development through UN support to enhance their capacity to mobilise additional financing, including green and blue bonds.
The governor said counties require support to undertake restoration of forests, watershed and rangelands; develop water storage and treatment plants to increase access to portable water and construction of dams.
She said there is need for commercialisation of the livestock sector to enhance productive livestock value chain in the Asal counties.
Waiguru further said the counties have made significant strides in advancing the climate agenda by taking action to combat climate change and its impacts.
This is by establishing County Climate Change Funds through enacting requisite legislations, allocation of resources intended to finance mitigation and adaptation activities and establishment of Climate Change Units.
“All the county governments have designated county executive committee members in charge of climate change and localisation of climate action at the community level-established 26 subcounty climate change-planning committees. Thirty counties have ward climate change planning committees,” she said.
The chairperson said a number of counties have prepared an inclusive contingency and emergency operations plans and climate vulnerability plans to ensure long lasting solutions to recurrent drought situations in Kenya.
Waiguru asked the UN to consider counties in the proposed review for the UN Sustainable Development and Cooperation Framework to incorporate the County Governments Integrated Development Plans.
“We hope the review will also consider the scope of coverage to ensure that no county is left behind. The strategic positioning of county governments is very important in national, regional and international dialogues and forums," she said.
"This is to encourage...honest dialogue on climate change in the global space for sub-national governments on driving a pathway to low emissions and resilient development at the local level.”
(edited by Amol Awuor)