• The equipment include automatic smoke detectors and drones as well as other camera and surveillance equipment.
• Other previous projects that have been financed by France in Kenya include Mikoko which was implemented in partnership with KEMFRI and KFS.
Image: HANDOUT
Kenya Forest Service in partnership with the French government have unveiled the Capacity Development Project for Modern Technologies in Forest Fire Management.
The commissioning was officiated by France state minister for development, francophonie and international partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou.
The envoy was accompanied by French Ambassador to Kenya and Somalian Arnaud Suquet, the European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger and senior officers from KFS led by acting chief conservator of forest Alex Lemarkoko.
The project which was unveiled at KFS HQ in Karura will be led by French company, Tyllium, which is expected to provide innovative solutions to aid in detecting forest fires.
The equipment include automatic smoke detectors and drones as well as other camera and surveillance equipment.
With the help of the French Public School for Civil Safety, rangers will also receive capacity building and training on how to respond to fire incidences and handle firefighting equipment.
Speaking at the French Embassy residence, minister Zacharopoulou said the project is in response to the Kenyan government’s priorities of achieving and maintaining at least 20 per cent forest cover by 2030.
This is by strengthening and fire-fighting capabilities of KFS, monitoring and communication in the Mau Summit, Mt Kenya and the Aberdares.
“This partnership contributes to Kenya’s commitments relating to climate action and the preservation biodiversity, two areas where France is especially keen to support,” she said.
Ambassador Suquet added that France will also provide a soft and concessional loan amount of 22 million Euros (Sh3.3 trillion) to fund the project through KFS.
"Climate change is exacerbating a problem of forest fires hence why there is a need to have early detection gear," he said.
"France is ready to look at more cooperation with Kenya around meterological services as it is important for many issues around adaptation to climate change such as agriculture and early flood warning."
Suquet also said this could include equipment, innovative data, data analysis and capacity building for the Kenya meterological department.
Other previous projects that have been financed by France in Kenya include Mikoko which was implemented in partnership with KEMFRI and KFS.
The project aimed to help scientists and KFS better understand and protect mangroves along Kenya’s Coast.
The French government is also supporting an ongoing project through the Green Belt Movement which seeks to rehabilitate degraded areas in Mau Forest, in Nakuru and Nandi counties.
It also includes support in on-farm forestry as well as climate smart agriculture.
The French minister, who was on her 24-hour special state visit, noted that she managed to hold talks with environment CS Soipan Tuya.
“We exchanged on the common challenges both states face and how we could link the upcoming Paris Summit with the Nairobi summit,” Zacharopoulou said.
"I was very happy to see that we have many similar points of view and agenda that we are going to push together.”
She also held a bilateral meeting with President Ruto to mainly discuss the upcoming Global Financing Pact summit that is set to be held in Paris on 22-23 June.
Kenya is equally expected to host the Africa Climate Summit which will subsequently be held on 4-6 September, 2023.
“As we will be working towards building a fairer system, we all know that we don’t have time as the consequence of climate change is impacting the lives of all of us,” Zacharopoulou said.
“The African continent contributes less than four per cent of the global pollution and we believe this continent has the solution.”
She also added that Kenya plays a central role on multilateral negotiations as an African role model and leader.
"I believe we can innovate together but of course we know that there is need for more money and the question remains how can we achieve this goal. Speaking with President Ruto, I know he has a clear vision on the innovative mechanism of finance," she said.
"He has taken up a real leadership role in Africa on the climate and finance debate where he not only has an ambition for Kenya but also for the entire continent.”
Zacharopoulou noted that they will be expecting leaders from the G7, G20, Africa as well as small islands to be present at the upcoming summit.
The minister also said that the bilateral talks with Ruto involved discussions around he future of multilateral development banks as well as a fair allocation of IMF Special Drawing Rights(SDRs).
"France respects the engagement on the reallocation of SDRs. President Macron made a promise and we reallocated 20 per cent of our SDRs," Zacharopoulou said.
"We reallocate direct to IMF and are planning to increase it to 30 per cent and we would want to also see other countries doing the same."