Participants from Mandera following the deliberations during the county consultations
North Eastern Province has been identified as being particularly vulnerable to climate change related impacts such as prolonged droughts followed at times by floods leading to loss of livelihood, life, damage of property and infrastructure.
North Eastern Provincial Commissioner, James Ole Seriani officially opening a county consultation forum to develop a comprehensive action plan to implement the national climate change response strategy for north eastern region at Garissa said the impacts of climate change in the region were severe as destruction of the infrastructure hinders humanitarian aid to mitigate.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Regional Commissioner, Jeremiah Were the P. C. noted other examples of climate change include the recent extreme frost that attacked most of the highlands in the Rift Valley among other areas leading to heavy losses to tea farmers.
MR. Joseph Katumo from planning Div,MEMR taking the participants through the policy document
He said if mitigation and adaptation measures are not undertaken, climate change would impact negatively on Kenya’s Agricultural sector leading to heavy economic losses and food insecurity due to prolonged drought including areas that were traditionally considered ‘ safe’ from extreme climate and weather events like droughts and floods.
He praised the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources for its participatory approach to developing a Comprehensive Action Plan to implement the National Climate Change Response Strategy.
The Action plan has eight operational Sub components covering low carbon Development Pathway Enabling Policy and Legal Framework, National Adaptation Plan, National Appropriate mitigation actions, Technology development and Transfer, knowledge management and capacity development, National performance and Benefit Measurement and Finance.
Once the Action Plan is ready, the eight operational sub-components will be mainstreamed into relevant social economic sections and funds identified for implementation.
The process is designed to involve county stakeholders consultations in line with the Kenya Constitution 2010 so as to ensure a true Kenya process owned by Kenyans.
Participants from Garissa County pose for a group photo at Almond Resort Garissa,after the forum
