By Antonina Nasieku

On February 6, 2024, Her Excellency the Governor of Nakuru County, Madam Susan Kihika, who also chairs the steering committee on climate change, convened a meeting at Nyayo Gardens in Nakuru at 9 a.m. The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kones, various County Ministers, and Members of the County Assemblies from Nakuru County.

The Ward Climate Change Committees were established to collaborate with communities in identifying their vulnerabilities to climate change and devising adaptation plans. This initiative aims to mitigate the impacts of climate change on communities and livelihoods. The committees were formalized under the law within Nakuru County, with detailed guidelines regarding their composition, functions, and the Training of Trainers (TOTs) responsible for facilitating the formation process in accordance with the Nakuru County Climate Change Act 2021.

The WCCPs program is a collaborative effort involving partnerships with organizations such as Slum Dwellers International (SDI), Sustainable Energy Access Forum Kenya (SEAF-K), and the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN), with support from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Kenya through the Voices for Just Climate Action (VCA) and Leading the Change (Ltc). The objective is to establish a platform for public participation that engages communities within Nakuru County in mainstreaming climate change action.

The primary agenda of the meeting was to discuss and devise mitigation measures for the challenges faced. Issues raised during the meeting included the difficulties encountered in carrying out duties and the expectations of committee members. Challenges highlighted included inadequate water storage facilities, lack of reimbursement for committee members, insufficient capacity building mechanisms, limited financial support, and lack of training opportunities. Members expressed expectations such as reimbursement, inclusion in the County payroll, provision of branded t-shirts, and regular training programs.

Major mitigation measures prioritized during the meeting included:

1. Increasing the financial budget for committees from 1.5% to 2%, a decision welcomed by committee members.

2. Enhancing waste management across all wards in Nakuru County.

3. Implementing improved and modern water harvesting methods, particularly in areas prone to drought and inadequate rainfall.

4. Supporting local community members through startups to diversify livelihoods and reduce dependence on a single source of income.

Partners also recommended increased networking among members through grassroots-level training. Additionally, measures such as the use of renewable energy, energy conservation, water storage and conservation, forest conservation and restoration, and climate-friendly gardening were extensively discussed and highlighted during the event.