Onesmus Kuyu Muia, Machakos CEC for Water, Irrigation, Environment, Sanitation & Climate Change, with Justus Kasivu, CEC for Health, during the handover of the Nairobi Living Declaration baton to Nairobi County Government/HANDOUTMachakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has called for collaborations in tackling interconnected challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and public health.
Speaking at the 4th Pan African Conference on Environment, Climate Change, and Health held in Nairobi, Ndeti emphasised that fragmented approaches are no longer viable in the face of a growing climate crisis.
“The nexus of environment, climate, and health is too complex and too urgent for fragmented responses,” she said, addressing delegates from across Africa.
Themed “Harnessing Science, Policy, and Partnerships for Environmental Sustainability and Climate Health Resilience,” the conference brought together scientists, policymakers, development partners, and civil society groups to chart collaborative responses to the climate-health crisis.
Ndeti underscored the need for science to drive evidence-based policy, policy to inform coordinated action, and partnerships to accelerate impact.
“From grassroots communities to global institutions, we each have a role to play,” she added. “Climate change is not a distant threat—it is a present and growing crisis. It affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we grow, and ultimately, the health and wellbeing of our people.”
Reflecting on Machakos County’s role in advancing climate and health resilience, Ndeti recounted how her county hosted the 3rd Climate Change and Health Conference a year ago.
“We were proud to provide a platform for evidence-based dialogue, inter-county collaboration, and innovation anchored in the lived realities of our communities,” she said.
“We did not just talk. We listened. We learned. And we left with renewed purpose.”
That momentum, she noted, has since translated into concrete action.
Machakos has expanded community-led climate adaptation programs, enhanced early warning systems for health and environmental threats, and strengthened public health infrastructure to respond to climate-sensitive diseases like malaria and cholera.
The county also forged stronger partnerships with academia, civil society, development agencies, and the private sector—alliances that Ndeti said were critical in crafting robust, inclusive, and locally relevant climate policies.
“The lessons we gathered did not remain within our borders,” she noted. “They have echoed across counties, inspiring peer learning and cross-county collaboration. And that is the essence of why we are here today.”
Ndeti urged joint leadership across counties and nations, stressing that the challenges of today demand solidarity, innovation, and shared responsibility.
“As leaders, scientists, policymakers, and advocates, we must embrace collaboration not as a choice, but as a necessity. The future of our people—and our planet—depends on it.”
The Pan African conference continues through the week with
sessions focused on climate-resilient health systems, environmental policy
integration, indigenous knowledge, and innovative financing for sustainable
development.
