Kenya can end hunger through climate change mitigation and adaption

Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro distributes food items to residents of drought-stricken Ganze Sub County.

The 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) will take place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in November 2022 to discuss efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. Conversations on mitigating the impact of climate change are urgent, and the meeting comes at a time Kenya is facing a severe drought. The Famine Early Systems Network indicates that more than four million Kenyans need food assistance. This is the worst drought in 40 years.

Drought has knock on effects. As communities move in search of water, food and pasture, there is resultant conflict with the host communities because the hosts too may not have enough resources for the migrant community. Children drop out of school because hungry children cannot learn.

Hunger leads to malnutrition and stunting among children. In addition, as communities move, healthcare for those who are undergoing long-term treatment is disrupted, leading to deteriorating health. Communities turn to charcoal burning as a source of income, further degrading the environment. Drought causes poverty as pastoralists lose their herds of livestock.

Communities that are affected by drought are usually the first responders to the challenges they face because they already start to find their own coping mechanisms. They are the embodiment of courage and tenacity. Still, the government, private sector, civil society, and donors should in solidarity and shared responsibility provide the communities facing hunger with food and cash assistance as an emergency response.

Additionally, the government should urgently introduce school feeding programmes in all dry parts of Kenya so that children return to school immediately. When they are out of school there are multiple challenges such as weak learning outcomes, child marriages, and child labour. The longer a child is out of school, the less likely that they will return.

For the long term, the government must start a vigorous tree planting and nurturing campaign to increase Kenya's forest cover to 30 per cent in 2032. Planting fruit trees has additional benefits as sources of food. Trees produce oxygen that we need to breathe.

They reduce the amount of storm water runoff, which reduces erosion and pollution in our waterways and may reduce the effects of flooding. Many species of wildlife depend on trees for habitat. Trees provide food, protection, and homes for many birds and mammals.

Additionally, plants like bamboo have immense benefits and are among the fastest growing woody plants. Kenya has the bamboo policy of 2019 which should be implemented. Bamboo is a multipurpose plant with many uses including being a substitute for timber, is a source of bio-energy, is a sustainable raw material source for micro, small and medium scale enterprises, and sustains the ecosystems that protect water.

Bamboo rapidly self-regenerates, matures quickly and can be harvested, within three to five years, as a hard, wood-like material, with a diverse range of uses without the need to replant.

There is need for additional resources from the government, donors and private sector for environment education, research and development and climate smart agriculture to ensure food security. Food security enables economic growth because well fed citizens are more productive. Businesses too should make climate resilient investments.

As envisioned in the Paris Agreement, donor countries should provide Kenya with financial resources to enable it to adapt to the adverse effects and reduce the impact of a changing climate. They should also provide us with climate-related capacity-building. These efforts will help us end hunger.