Experts have said that 70 percent of global disasters are caused by climate change.
They argue that climate change has caused increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks among other phenomena. This in turn has made wildfires more numerous and severe.
The experts said the warming climate has also caused a decline in water supplies, reduced agricultural yields and triggered heat-related health impacts.
Addressing the press in Bungoma on Monday, Prof Josephine Ngaira, a climatologist at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, said 70 percent of the global disasters are caused by climate change resulting into landslides, diseases and drought that bring starvation.
“Recently we have had food insecurity in the country and it is because of climate change,” she said.
She said MMUST has partnered with the Kenya Red Cross and Bungoma County to undertake intensive research on climate change.
Jane Mukonambi, the Bungoma County climate change director, said climate change is a phenomenon that is affecting the world at large and needs researchers to put their heads together to find mitigation measures.
“Climate change is something that has created negative impacts both on human lives and animals globally. That is why we have come up with this partnership to see how we can mitigate it,” she said.
She said Bungoma County has come up with the county climate change policy that has climate change funds and the county finance policy.
Mukonambi said that the county government's partnership with MMUST and Red Cross will help in carrying out research on climate change issues.
“We have to bring other partners on board to help us do research aimed at addressing climate change issues in the region,” she said.
To ensure that the community also understands climate change, the director noted that the county has formed climate change planning committees in all 45 wards in Bungoma. The committee will share the information on climate change to the grassroots.
She pointed out that the county also has a climate change steering committee headed by the governor to oversee the funding modalities towards climate change.
"We shall not only work with MMUST but also bring on board other institutions that will help in doing research and informing the public,” she said.
The climate expert said that the research shall be done at the university level and it will give an opportunity to other researchers.
She said that the county has prepared the County Climate Change Action Plan 2023-2027 that has captured all the actions that should be done by the key players adding that the plan will be launched.
“Climate change directorate being new in the county, the action plan will be launched soon to allow every partner to understand more about what should be done to mitigate the climate change,” she said.
Bungoma County Red Cross chairman Ferdinand Nabiswa said there is an upsurge of jiggers in the region, affirming that it is a clear indication of climate change.
Nabiswa said according to the meteorological reports El Nino rains are expected in October and there's a need to create awareness.
He added that Red Cross on its own is running a project called climate change and Inclusivity that is going to cover three sub-counties of Bungoma South, Cheptais and Kapsokwony.
Nabiswa lauded Governor Kenneth Lusaka for supporting the climate change research and formation of ward committees.
