Kakamega County is set to benefit from the ongoing Africa Climate Change Summit as investors commit to help secure the indigenous Kakamega forest.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa noted that the United Nations Development Program has committed to supporting fencing and securing of the indigenous Kakamega forest.
"It has over 1,000 bird species, we are taking the initiative of conserving the rainforest seriously by partnering with key stakeholders like UNDP on matters affecting the forest,” he said.
The county boss was speaking during a press conference on the sidelines of the Africa Climate Change Summit 2023 held in Nairobi.
Kakamega Forest is Kenya's only tropical rainforest situated in the Kakamega and Nandi County of Kenya, northwest of the capital Nairobi, and near to the border with Uganda.
Counties are also set to receive funds in climate resilience investment grants from the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program.
Barasa said the funds will help the devolved units mitigate climate change effects across the country.
“Kakamega County will receive approximately Sh 200 million and the funds will help in capacity building of the climate action committees at the ward level,” Barasa said.
This, he said, will also help to develop and implement tailored climate resilience strategies to respond to the risks identified by communities.
Barasa said some of the risks identified include agriculture, environment, water, green energy and natural resource management.
“For us Governors, we are going to make positive contribution, the focus of ensuring capacity building will go a long way in supporting the agenda we have on tree growing,” he said.
The program has been managed by the exchequer while funded by the World Bank the governments of Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden.
He added that Kakamega County is among the counties that have qualified for the FLLoCA program.
“To be eligible for funding counties need a county climate change Fund, County Climate Change Unit, and to carry out a participatory climate risk assessment and action planning at the ward level,” a statement from World Bank reads.
Speaking at the same event, President William Ruto acknowledged that once counties qualify for the grants, they will receive the funds.
“One final request to my governors, as you know whenever there is money for you I do the very best to release the cash, and you are witnesses yourselves,” Ruto said.
The Africa Climate Change Summit 2023 has been organized into four systems; that is energy systems and industry, cities, and urban and rural settlements.
Other themes are land, ocean, food water and societies, health, livelihoods and economies.
ACW 2023 builds momentum ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai and the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake.
