Kakamega County is set to receive Sh81 million during the current financial year to kick-start implementation of the Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme (INReMP) after an oversight mission by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) expressed satisfaction with the county’s preparedness.
The funds will support the establishment of programme implementation structures, identification of beneficiaries and mapping of degraded landscapes targeted for restoration under the initiative.
INReMP is a multi-billion-shilling programme jointly funded by the Government of Kenya, IFAD, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The programme seeks to address the effects of climate change, reverse environmental degradation, reduce rural poverty and promote sustainable agricultural production and livelihoods.
Kakamega is among ten counties selected to benefit from the programme’s first phase, which is expected to reach more than 407,000 vulnerable households across the country.
During the assessment mission, the IFAD delegation reviewed the county’s readiness to implement the programme and assessed its alignment with key national and county development frameworks.
These include Kenya Vision 2030, the Agricultural Sector Transformation and Growth Strategy (ASTGS), the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Kenya’s commitments under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) on climate change, and the Kakamega County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP).
The programme will focus on restoring degraded forests, wetlands and rangelands while promoting climate-smart agricultural enterprises such as dairy farming, poultry keeping, beekeeping, fruit tree cultivation and horticulture to enhance food security, environmental conservation and household incomes.
Kakamega County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives Mophat Mandela said the county government is fully committed to working closely with the national government and development partners to ensure successful implementation of the programme.
Mandela noted that women and young people are expected to benefit significantly through employment opportunities, improved agricultural productivity and income-generating activities supported under the climate-smart interventions.
“We are committed to ensuring that this programme delivers tangible benefits to our communities by restoring degraded ecosystems while improving livelihoods through sustainable agricultural practices,” he said.
Head of the IFAD mission Dickson Liyayi Magotsi commended Kakamega County for its level of preparedness, saying effective collaboration among national and county governments, development partners and local communities would be critical to achieving the programme’s objectives.
He said the initiative is designed to strengthen environmental conservation, improve nutrition and food security, enhance rural livelihoods and build resilient community institutions capable of responding to climate change.
The nationwide programme has an estimated budget of Sh34 billion and is expected to play a key role in supporting Kenya’s efforts to achieve sustainable natural resource management while improving the socio-economic well-being of vulnerable communities.
Chief Officers led by Emmanuel Kariuki, County INReMP Coordinator Titus Omengo and other county officials attended the assessment meeting.
By Cypron Esolio
