• Waiguru noted that other than the initiatives by the devolved units, the national government has over the years been working on green energy projects.
• She noted that wind and solar energy are initiatives long adopted by the government including phased introduction of solar-powered street lights.
Image: COG/TWITTER
Counties have set aside funds to implement initiatives aimed at adopting green energy and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change.
Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru said every county is working on their own priority interventions.
"Kirinyaga for example is in the process of setting up their own hydro-power station so that we can be able to provide cheaper energy to our communities," she said.
The CoG chair was speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing COP27 Summit at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
The conference which is being attended by world leaders is taking stock of the interventions taken to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Waiguru noted that other than the initiatives by the devolved units, the national government has over the years been working on green energy projects.
"For example geothermal is in Nakuru county, I know they are exploring having the same in other counties such as Baringo around the areas of Bogoria. By and large, we are moving the country from fossils to green energy."
She noted that wind and solar energy are also initiatives long adopted by the government like phased introduction of solar-powered street lights.
"Other than the initial costs which are high, we are looking for solutions that can be affordable and safer for our communities."
Waiguru said legislators have a role to play towards this end by representing the needs of their communities through formulation of laws that promote green energy adoption.
They should pass the laws that are in line with what the country is going through, she said.
"They are also the ones oversighting the government to ensure that the national government is implementing the law as is required."
"One of the things that I will be seeking to support my county assembly in Kirinyaga is for example to move our boda bodas from using fuel to using electricity and I will support them by having charging points," Waiguru said.
On the international front, the Kirinyaga governor said that Kenya has taken a front seat in pushing developed countries to honour their pledge of funding the loss and damage caused by climate change.
Despite Africa contributing less than three percent of global emission of fossil gasses, the continent bears the biggest brunt of climate change in terms of erratic weather patterns, droughts, floods, airborne diseases among other effects.
Rich nations committed to pay $100 billion (Sh1 trillion ) a year to developing countries by 2020 but have failed to so for 13 years since making the promise in 2009.
The sum was pledged during Cop15 in Copenhagen to help cut greenhouse gas emissions and cope with the impact of the climate crisis in developing countries.
Waiguru challenged leaders from other African countries to add their voice in pushing for the release of the funds by rich nations.
"We as leaders need to reorganise better, our voice need to be hard louder. We need to rethink our approach because we cannot come back to another conference and then again it's pushed further," she said.