Kenya has become more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The country has witnessed more frequent and intense droughts and floods in recent years. For instance, the country has recorded the most prolonged drought spell over the last five years, with five successive failed rain seasons.
When they have come, the rains have been inadequate or too heavy, resulting in destructive flooding. This frequency of droughts and perennial flooding poses significant challenges to food security and water availability, especially in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands.
The horrific images of frail livestock, carcasses, destroyed homes and damaged infrastructure left behind by families escaping drought have become a perennial issue for the government, policymakers and other humanitarian actors whose sole focus is alleviating human suffering and protecting individual rights.
Thus, at this crossroads point, all actors must collectively and conscientiously collaborate in both early warning, early action and response plans to tackle these effects of climate change effectively.
Thus, the immediate and long-term solution is to upscale partnerships between the government and civil society organisations, particularly humanitarian organisations such as the Kenya Red Cross Society – and its research hub, the International Center for Humanitarian Affairs and other key organisations in climate adaptation and mitigation.
Collaborations in establishing early warning and early action systems between these organisations would play a crucial role in effectively responding to disasters and emergencies, providing life-saving aid and support to affected communities, and the ultimate goal of securing climate justice at the community level.
The recent visit of President William Ruto to KRCS and his commitment to support humanitarian work further confirm the government’s effort to rely on solutions that prepare and prevent the most vulnerable communities from any future climatic catastrophes.
The President talked about the importance of planting trees and general environmental conservation, which is a vital step toward mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. He urged KRCS to increase its planting goal from 5 million to 10 million trees through partnering with other like-minded organisations and ultimately contributing to the goal of planting 15 billion trees over 10 years.
He also emphasised the need for society to work with local communities to adopt and adapt smart climate change measures and develop innovative approaches to emergencies.
For instance, the adoption of the livestock offtake programme involving the purchase and slaughter of cattle to provide relief meat to vulnerable households during drought seasons and investing in drought-resistant seeds in collaboration with certain government agencies and NGOs is an example of how various communities have been effectively successfully supported during disasters, in the past.
As such, lives have been saved and sustained, besides substantially reducing the loss of the animals through death orchestrated by drought.
Moreover, insisting on partnerships means available information on weather, climatic changes and other relevant data from institutions like the Kenya Meteorological Department, National Disaster Operations Centre, Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, etc, can be better used in data-driven decision-making.
Through these collaborations, organised sector convening and the development of long-term strategies and approaches can be made a priority to address the challenges posed by climate change and ensure that a more resilient and sustainable future for all Kenyans is built.
Through these partnerships, proactive measures will be initiated and scaled to mitigate the effects of climate change, including planting trees and promoting sustainable agriculture.
However, more must be done to address the challenges of climate change. A comprehensive approach is also needed, including promoting sustainable agriculture, increasing the use of renewable energy, and reducing carbon emissions.
The best entry for developing a new climate-smart strategy for the country is working with primary schools to ensure learners are climate-conscious at an early age. The knowledge shall guide their teenage and young adulthood actions and positively impact the environment.
International Center for Humanitarian Affairs (KRCS). [email protected]
