Kakamega to receive Sh200m for climate programme

Local tourist at Kakamega forest on September 9, 2020. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Kakamega County will receive Sh200 million from Word Bank in climate-resilient investment grants under the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) program.

Speaking during the Africa Climate Change Summit 2023 in Nairobi, Governor Fernandes Barasa said the funds will help the devolved unit to mitigate climate change effects across the country.

"Kakamega County will receive approximately Sh200 million and the funds will help in capacity building of the climate action committees at ward level," said Barasa.

He said this will also help develop and implement tailored climate resilience strategies to respond to the risks identified by communities.

The county chief cited agriculture, environment, water, green energy, and natural resource management as some of the climate change risk areas.

"For us governors, we are going to make a positive contribution, capacity building will go a long way in supporting the agenda we have initiated on tree planting, growing and protecting the natural resources," he said.

The program is to be managed by the exchequer while funded by the World Bank and the governments of Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, and Sweden.

Barasa said Kakamega County is among the devolved units that have qualified for the FLLoCA funding program.

According to the World Bank, for counties to qualify for funding they must have a county climate change Fund and county Climate Change Unit and carry out a participatory climate risk assessment and action planning at ward level.

"We are eligible for funding because we have met all stipulated requirements and we hope we are going to achieve the purpose of this fund in having a secure environment for all," said Barasa.

He disclosed that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has committed to supporting fencing and securing the Kakamega tropical rainforest.

"The forest has over 1000 bird species, we are taking the initiative of conserving it through a partnership with key stakeholders. "UNDP has committed to help communities living around the forest to get alternative sources of energy," added Barasa.

"My administration will earmark Sh50 million every financial year for fencing and protecting the forest and other natural resources and providing tree seedlings to be planted in Kakamega forest and other water catchment areas," said Barasa.

UNDP and the Japanese government had earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the national government, Vihiga and Kakamega counties on the fencing and conservation of Kakamega forest in a bid to restore and conserve the forest and natural resources.

The agreement commits the Ministry of Tourism and the two county governments, development partners and communities living near the forest to protect and conserve it.

UNDP and the Japanese government will see the fencing of 117 kilometers of the forest to protect over 4,000 bird species, indigenous trees, wild animals and natural resources within and around the forest.

According to the Governor, the first phase of fencing covered 15kilometres, the second phase will see another 35kilometres to be fenced; the remaining 68kilometres will be done in the third phase.