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The Kisumu government has allocated Sh100 million to finance climate change mitigation projects.
The fund, which is two per cent of the county's development budget, targets to address climate-related challenges through community-driven resilience projects.
Kisumu Climate Change director Evans Gichana said the county works with residents to build community resilience and reduce vulnerabilities to a changing climate.
The projects are community-driven since they find themselves on the frontline of the climate change crisis.
Gichana said the Sh100 million in the 2023-24 financial year will fund six projects.
“We have fully engaged and incorporated residents in planning, budgeting and financing climate change mitigation programmes through ward climate change planning committees,” he said.
In Kisumu West, Sh10 million has been allocated for the construction of Paga water project and Sh10 million for Koyombe water pan in Nyakach.
The county has allocated Sh20 million to Awach water project in Seme. Some Sh30 million has been set aside for Kisumu county climate change resource centre in Railways ward, Kisumu Central.
In Nyando, Sh25 million has been allocated for the procurement of rear load garbage compression compact truck.
Gichana said Sh5 million will be used for expansion of Siso (2) canal in Nyando to help curb flooding.
He spoke during a consultative meeting over the implementation of Financing Locally Led Climate Action funds organised by Sustwach Kenya under Building Community Resilience through Transparent County Climate Finance project, funded by Christian Aid.
The director said the county launched a community-driven climate change risk assessment in the 35 wards in Kisumu.
The assessment aims to ensure participation of residents at ward level in decision-making on matters of adaptation and addressing the effects of climate change.
Gichana said the assessment will facilitate the rollout of the report across the county.
"The risk assessment report factored public participation in identifying climate risks within the community and supporting them to find possible and viable solutions,” he said.
Besides the Sh100 million allocation, Gichana said there is the World Bank-funded for county governments through grants, FLLOCA, which focuses on development projects at wards.
The counties are expecting about Sh136 million each towards county climate resilience investments (CCRI).
The fund is aimed at strengthening local resilience to the impact of climate change, natural hazards and other stressors by building the country’s capacity to plan, implement and monitor resilience investments.
Gichana said the money will go towards development projects focusing on community at the ward level.
“The projects will depend on the priorities of each county,” he said.
“As a county, we are prepared and the process is ongoing. We have engaged and trained communities and climate change actors.”
The projects include agro-forestry and reforestation, climate-smart agriculture, rehabilitation of degraded rangelands, local landscape management, activities that enhance agricultural and pastoralist/livestock productivity.
Others are activities that improve access, promote conservation and efficient use of water.
