UK-Kenya deliver energy planning, nature-based climate change solutions in Makueni

The UK-Kenya partnership is delivering energy planning and nature-based solutions to climate change in Makueni County.

This week, the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) team undertook a 2-day visit to Makueni County.

The visit demonstrated the growing partnership between the UK and Makueni County Government on progressing sustainable energy planning and advancing nature-based solutions to climate change.

The team joined by Makueni County officials for Energy & Environment visited Makueni County Referral Hospital and saw the installation of solar panels that will enable 100% reliance on solar power.

The project is jointly supported by the UK and the County Government.

It will result in a solar capacity of 200 kilowatts peak load, which is expected to save power costs for the hospital by Sh7 million annually.

Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior while weighing on the partnership said:

“We are pleased to host UK PACT in Makueni County. The visit demonstrates our commitment to renewable energy and exploring nature-based solutions to support ecosystem restoration."

"Our County is endowed with natural resources, and we have fully integrated green energy in our County Energy Plan. Our partnership is geared to put in place a state-of-the-art County Energy Center in Kisingo to serve the County and the Country at large.”

Economic Counsellor at the British High Commission Daniel Wilcox on his part said:

“Conservation efforts have the potential to be an engine of economic growth. We value our partnership with Kenya, and we are committed to tackling joint environmental and climate change issues for the sake of future generations."

He explained that they are working with counties like Makueni towards the realisation of green energy and land and ecosystem restoration.

Wilcox said they are committed to strengthening the community’s capacity to respond to climate change and support the productive use of energy through useful energy plans."

“I applaud the Government of Makueni County for establishing an Energy Department to enable the energy sector to be mainstreamed across all the other departments within the county and also for their active participation in sensitisation workshops that have led to the successful completion of the County Energy Plans.”

The UK PACT team and County officials also visited farmers who are Trainers-of-Trainers(ToTs) on forest and land restoration and saw the interventions being implemented which have contributed to the improvement of farmers’ livelihoods.

They saw water conservation efforts such as water channelling to farm ponds and the use of shade nets for minimising water loss through evaporation.

They also met tree nursery workers who are supporting communities to grow trees.

The lead farmers have been able to cascade the training to 775 other farmers, thanks to a project led by ICRAF on exploring Nature-based solutions to adaptation,