Counties get Sh13b for climate change mitigation, adaptation

Peter Odhengo, the coordinator for the programme and the head of Green Finance and Green economy at the National Treasury, money is needed to effectively respond to the impacts of climate change.

Odhengo noted that in 2023, of the Sh158.8 trillion (1.23 trillion dollars) climate funding received, only less than $1 billion (Sh130 billion) came to Africa.

Additionally, he noted that for the first time in history, following the effects of droughts and floods, Kenya’s capital Nairobi has climate refugees.

“As a country and the continent of Africa, we need to mobilise climate financing scale. Developed countries promised resources but failed to deliver,” Odhengo said, reiterating that Kenya and Africa at large are only but victims of climate change as they do not contribute to green house gas emissions.

“Several years ago, they promised Sh100 billion per year up to 2020. They have not delivered that promise, hence the flagship locally led climate programme to mobilise resources,” he said.

Under the flagship programme, Odhengo said a total of Sh38 billion has been mobilised and, “Sh12.68 billion has been transferred to 45 counties and about 1400 wards, with an average of Sh150 million per county”.

The larger phase of the climate programme is targeting Sh193.6 billion.

The money disbursed to counties is supposed to finance agriculture, water at the local level and environmental degradation, and respond to disaster risk management.  

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the two-day forum, John Mbadi, the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury, said Kenya has established the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme that should build climate resilience of communities within the 47 counties of Kenya.

“These are the initiatives that we need to implore upon to ensure that Africa is prioritising locally led solutions to its challenges on climate change,” Mbadi said adding that people from across the continent are today more deprived in both economic and social realms.

In a bid to enhance access to climate finance, Mbadi said Kenya has made great milestones towards shaping the country’s climate agenda through diverse policies, plans and frameworks.

He, however, pointed out that despite all efforts, the country is still grappling with climate change impacts.

“In the last one and a half years, Kenya has experienced abnormally heavy rains within two seasons that negatively impacted on lives,” the CS said.

The CS said that programmes such as FLLoCA and Building Climate Resilience of the Urban Poor (BCRUP) are key in addressing the adaptation and resilience measures at the rural and urban levels.

Speaking at the forum, Environment CS Aden Duale said the devastating impacts of the recent floods and droughts were more severe on the poor segment of the population in both rural an urban areas of the country.