Kenya is in the grip of a severe drought that has left at least 4.1 million people starving in 15 counties.
Media images of famished citizens waiting for relief food and rotting carcasses of livestock strewn in the fields are depressing.
On Wednesday, MPs from pastoralist communities asked the government to declare the drought a national disaster, and mobilise local and international emergency relief to save lives.
In the Rift Valley, rising levels of major lakes have wreaked havoc in surrounding communities.
The once mighty Mara River, like many others across the country, is undergoing a sharp drop in water levels mainly due to destruction of the Mau Complex, putting at risk human and animal life in the expansive Mara River Basin across Kenya and Tanzania.
These are just a few examples of the impacts of climate change. This global emergency is caused by the unsustainable and environmentally destructive activities of the rich nations.
Africa nations, including Kenya, generally contribute little to this unfolding disaster, but suffer some of its worst consequences. That said, there is wide scope for local action.
Even as international deliberations continue on strategic responses, the government must step up efforts to reverse the disastrous impacts of climate change.
The time to act is now.
