Take part in Climate Change Act review, Gachagua urges Kenyans

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has asked Kenyans to take part in the public participation on review of the Climate Change Act, 2016.

He said strong legal systems are key to battling climate change and its adverse effects in Kenya and Africa at large.

The Deputy president was addressing the 3rd Regional Symposium on Greening Judiciaries in Africa on Wednesday.

"We are taking the necessary steps, including supporting amendments towards strengthening the Climate Change Act, 2016," he said.

"I urge the public and other interested parties to comment comprehensively on the proposed amendments through the ongoing public participation process."

While it is the mandate of the legislature to make and amend laws, Gachagua challenged the judiciary across the continent to deliver decisions on environmental issues to inform legal frameworks.

His remarks come at a time when Kenya is leading the continent in calling for funding towards mitigating the adverse effects of climate change from countries with the biggest pollutant emissions.

Such funding, the DP said, will help developing countries in Africa implement measures like planting more trees to save lives and livelihoods, which are under threat.

"With the slowing implementation of the climate compensation model, we count on the Judiciary to issue precedence-setting judgments. Such judgments will also inform new laws or reviews thereof, for the benefit of the people," he said.

Gachagua urged the Judiciary to consider non-custodial sentences and task offenders with cleaning the environment under community service.

This, he explained, will be a contribution to a sustainable environment.

"The Judiciary must also be aware of their role and responsibilities in promoting the implementation, development and enforcement of laws, regulations and international agreements relating to sustainable development."

The DP acknowledged that the Judiciary in 2022, under the Environmental and Lands Court, planted several trees across the country in addition to this year’s targets of 1 million trees.

He asked the courts to be more innovative in environmental conservation.

"Further, since the Covid-19 experience, the courts accelerated going paperless through digitisation of service. Progressively, this will reduce pressure on trees cut down for paper," he said.