County governments are better placed to develop and execute homegrown climate action strategies for the specific environmental and socio-economic conditions of their regions which ensures relevant and targeted interventions on localised climate issues such as deforestation, flooding and droughts.
Nakuru County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water, Environment, Climate Change, Energy, and Natural Resources, Dr Nelson Maara, indicated that devolved units are strategically positioned to effectively undertake public education and awareness campaigns among grassroots communities to embrace climate-resilient lifestyles and practices such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling and waste management, among others.
Dr Maara stated that there was a growing need for counties to integrate climate resilience into infrastructure, development, urban planning, and disaster preparedness, among others, to reduce the vulnerability of the inhabitants to climate-related risks and shocks.
Making his presentation at a panel discussion during the ongoing Kenya National Research Festival (KNRF) at Egerton University’s Njoro Main Campus, the CECM further pointed out that the integration of climate resilience measures would be in line with the County Climate Action Plans (CCAP) and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) III-2023-2027.
Dr Maara stated that collaborations with other players, such as the National government, research organisations, investors, development partners and civil society, can ensure that real-time and effective interventions meet the needs of the most vulnerable groups, who often bear the hardest impacts of climate change.
He indicated that the County Government of Nakuru has prioritised the deployment of renewable energy technologies, including geothermal, biogas systems, solar energy, and clean cooking solutions, especially in rural and peri-urban areas to mitigate effects of climate change and reduce cases of diseases caused by dirty fuels.
Dr Maara stated that green energy alleviates the need to extract biomass energy sources such as wood fuel from forests and ecosystems, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment.
Statistics from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry show that cooking contributes to 70 percent of the Greenhouse Gas emissions in Kenya.
The Ministry’s records indicate that over 93.2 percent of Kenyan rural households use wood fuel (fuelwood or charcoal) as their primary fuel, while 30 percent of the population use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), with only 3 percent of households owning an electric cooking appliance.
Dr Maara stated that Governor Susan Kihika’s administration is supporting regenerative agriculture with clean energy solutions that involve integrating renewable energy technologies like solar, wind, and geothermal into farming practices to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote sustainable, environmentally friendly farming.
According to the CECM, with a rapidly growing population, expected to hit 96 million by 2050, there is an urgent need for Kenya to sustainably produce sufficient, nutritious food for all while addressing climate change impacts from agricultural practices.
Dr Maara noted that since agriculture emits 20 percent of Green Houses Gases (GHGs), adopting long-term, climate-sensitive farming was imperative.
The CECM pointed out that sun, wind and heat within the earth (geothermal), unlike fossil fuels, do not pollute the atmosphere.
He noted that various studies have shown using these renewable resources in irrigation, harvesting, processing, storage and transportation of food promotes sustainable farming.
He emphasised that integrating clean and renewable energy into agricultural practices would lead to cost reductions in production, increased yields, and improved food security for residents.
Dr Maara reaffirmed that research and innovation are central to driving sustainable solutions, adding that Nakuru continues to position itself as a leader in environmental conservation, renewable energy, and food security.
The second edition of the four-day Kenya National Research Festival (KNRF), being jointly hosted by the National Research Fund (NRF) in partnership with Egerton University and the County Government of Nakuru, has brought on board researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators to explore cutting-edge advancements in sustainable agriculture and food security.
The thematic areas of the festival, in addition to agriculture, include research themes related to climate change, food nutrition, economic resilience, and technology adoption at the grassroots level.
Counties have been given opportunities at the forum to share experiences on how they are using research to support sustainable development and service delivery.
The festival themed “Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security: Empowering Communities through Research, Science, Technology and Innovation” is aimed at highlighting transformative solutions to enhance food production, resilience, and sustainability and runs from August 18th to August 22nd this year.
Dr Maara explained that the County Government of Nakuru was forging partnerships with the private sector towards promoting investments in technologies that transform solid waste into energy and fuel.
The initiative further aims to convert approximately 300 metric tonnes of garbage generated daily into market-ready eco-friendly construction materials and decorative home goods, such as bricks, tiles and artworks, among others.
Dr Maara said they were collaborating with various strategic partners in exploiting the power of innovation and transformation through conversion of waste disposal sites, mostly with plastic materials, into centres of sustainable innovation.
According to Dr Maara, the County Government’s vision to woo local and foreign investors into garbage recycling projects was twofold: to restore environmental dignity and to create sustainable jobs, especially for the increasing number of unemployed youths in Kenya.
“By investing in modern solid waste disposal, wastewater treatment, responsible waste management policies, and circular economy initiatives, we are firmly on the path to creating a more sustainable future that benefits both people and the planet,” he said.
Dr Maara added, “Through such initiatives we are committed to guaranteeing proper waste management which curbs pollution, conserves resources and improves public health by reducing exposure to hazardous materials.”
Beyond environmental conservation, the CECM indicated that proper wastewater management plays a crucial role in economic growth, as it prevents pollution in rivers, lakes, and oceans, safeguarding aquatic ecosystems.
He added that sustainable waste management will contribute towards checking climate change. Dr Maara observed that it has the capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent.
Dr Maara noted that to effectively respond to the climate crisis, counties are required to prioritize locally-led climate actions in their budgets and policies through the establishment of a specific legal framework and mechanisms to enable them to attract support and financing from donors, the national government, and development partners, especially the World Bank, so as to enhance accountability.
“This is why the Government, with the support of the Treasury in collaboration with the World Bank and other donors, established the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme to support and build the county’s ability to manage and deliver locally-led climate resilience actions,” he elaborated.
The project is aimed at building the capacity of counties to plan, implement, budget, and report on their respective local actions in line with the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2023-2027 and the Constitution.
FLLoCA is a five-year initiative implemented by the National Treasury through the Programme Implementation Unit (NTPIU) and the County Climate Change Units (CCCUs).
During the panel discussion, Egerton University Deputy Vice Chancellor for Administration, Finance and Planning Professor Richard Mulwa stressed the need for water conservation, citing China’s rainwater harvesting model as a practice Kenya should emulate.
Professor Mulwa called for better methods of tapping, storing and recycling rainwater for the dry seasons.
He said there is a need to adopt green building technology systems capable of recycling water for other uses.
The Don pointed out that Kenya is experiencing more unpredictable weather patterns and longer droughts, making rainwater harvesting a crucial strategy for ensuring a reliable water supply.
“Harvesting rainwater can significantly decrease the strain on dwindling groundwater reserves, which are under pressure from various factors. Rainwater can be used for flushing toilets and washing hands, improving sanitation in schools and other institutions. It comes in handy for laundry and irrigation offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to piped water,” he observed.
By Anne Mwale
