Category: News

The National Government has committed to unlock Sh7.4bn in grants to County Governments through an ambitious Climate Resilience Investment plan under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program.
The allocation earmarked for the 2023/2024 fiscal year was announced as Kenya hosted the first Africa Climate Summit 2023 (ACS23) which saw global leaders, heads of State from across the African continent, United Nations agencies, Governors, Regional Economic Communities, policy makers, intergovernmental organizations, private sector, civil society, academia and delegates convene at the KICC grounds in Nairobi from 4th – 7th September 2023.
Themed “Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance for solutions for Africa and the World”, the Summit presented an opportunity to deliberate on critical issues on climate financing, including honoring past global financing arrangements and collaboration in additional financing for earmarked green transition investments in Africa; operationalization of loss and damage at COP 28.
Delegates also explored proposals on how to position Africa as the next destination for green investments to enhance de-carbonation of the global economy.
Speaking while presenting a Sh7.4bn cheque to counties during a side event co-hosted by the Council of Governors (CoG), Ministry of Environment and FLLoCA, Dr. William Ruto, President of Kenya, emphasized that community engagement and involvement in decision making was paramount to achieving meaningful change at the grassroots level.
“Communities are not just victims of Climate Change but also powerful agents in responding to the impacts of Climate Change,” he noted.
“The County Climate Resilience Grant, together with Sh3 billion of County own-resource allocations towards climate action, will assist counties in developing and implementing tailored climate resilience strategies in response to risks identified by communities in sectors such as agriculture, water, and natural resource management,” President Ruto explained.
CoG Chairperson, Governor Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), welcomed the development as a significant milestone towards climate resilience.
“By equipping communities and governments with the necessary tools, resources, and knowledge, we can ensure that communities are better prepared for the challenges brought by climate change,” she noted.
President Ruto also presided over the launch of the Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS) 2022-2050, the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2023-2028 and the Climate Change (Amendment) Act 2023.
The President, accompanied by Governor Waiguru attended the high level side event on operationalization of the Building Climate Resilience for the Urban Poor (BCRUP) Initiative.
The BCRUP initiative is pegged on six outcome areas namely: building resilience of communities, neighborhoods and eco-systems within urban poor areas; building resilient climate proof infrastructure in poor urban areas; developing climate resilience integrated urban spatial plans; enhancing adaptive capacity of the urban poor against climate change effects; strengthening Nationally Determined Contributions within urban dimensions, research, reporting and database and; governance framework to better manage rapid urbanization and climate change effects.
In line with the Climate Summit theme, CoG held a side event on 6th September 2023 on Sub-National Financing for Accelerated Climate Action which brought together Governors, Senate, Representatives from EALGA, UCLG and the Global Center for Adaptation among other stakeholders.
CoG’s Environment and Climate Change Committee Chairperson Dr. Wilber Ottichilo, Governor of Vihiga, called for sustained efforts to address challenges in accessing climate finance.
“Counties have made significant progress in meeting international climate change commitments, including enacting relevant legislation, investing in clean cooking solutions, promoting community tree nurseries, solarizing county offices, and implementing climate-smart agriculture,” Governor Ottichilo explained while calling for continued support.
CoG Vice Chairperson, Governor Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir), called for sustained efforts to eradicate bottlenecks impeding partnerships.
“Sub-national governments face bottlenecks in public-private partnerships (PPPs) due to complex processes. Advocacy efforts are needed at all levels to facilitate public-private investments, especially when resources are scarce,” he said.
“In addition, we need to build capacity to address the impacts of climate change, particularly in planning adaptation projects for effective Climate Action,” Abdullahi noted.
The session further emphasized on the need to develop regulations under the Climate Change (Amendment) Act of 2023 to enable carbon trading and equitable sharing of benefits, including with local communities and support enforcement and compliance at local level.
Governors participated in various side events touching on pertinent matters affecting sub-national governments including those that discussed the role of women in energy transition for a sustainable future in Africa.
Other fora delved on reforming the Global Financial Architecture from the bottom up and; The Circular Economy: Driver for Green Growth and Climate Resilience in Africa.
ACS23 encompassed a rich blend of panel discussions, plenary and exhibitions that served as a platform to inform, frame, and influence commitments, pledges, and outcomes, ultimately leading to the development of the Nairobi Declaration.
The declaration outlines Africa’s position ahead of the UNFCCC COP28 in the United Arab Emirates slated for late November to 12th December 2023.
In a call to action, African leaders urged developed countries to reduce carbon emissions, proposing a new financing mechanism to restructure Africa’s crippling debt and unlock climate funding.

President William Ruto on Monday, 25th September 2023 flagged off the distribution of 100,000 kits to be used by Community Health Promoters (CHPs) across the 47 Counties as part of the efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
The kits will be essential in empowering and equipping CHPs with basic household screening equipment and smart phones to enhance access to primary healthcare and promote healthier communities. This includes a backpack carrier bag, first aid box, jacket, weighing scale, infrared clinical thermometer and a mid-upper arm circumference tape (pediatric).
Speaking at Uhuru park in Nairobi where the event was held, the president said that the 100, 000 CHPs will transform healthcare at the grassroots and Kenyans will be offered basic screening services at the household level.
“Kenyans will now be attended to in their homes by fully trained local community Health Promoters who will be supervised by qualified health workers, “said president Ruto further pledging to support Counties in promoting preventive and promotive health services.
“I also want to assure our County Governments that they have our cooperation in delivering services to the people of Kenya. My responsibility is to ensure that the Counties succeed and Kenya succeeds”
Making her remarks, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha said primary healthcare would help in achieving Universal Health Coverage and that CHPs are a critical component in the implementation of this health strategy.
Council of Governors (CoG) Chair H.E Anne Waiguru reiterated County Governments commitment to supporting the CHP programme by allocating resources that will match National Government’s allocation. The programme will be jointly implemented by the National Government and County Governments with both levels sharing the responsibility of paying the CHPs.
‘The CHPs programme will undoubtedly go a long way in reducing the burden on our healthcare system by preventing diseases, promoting healthier lifestyles and providing vital health support to those in need,” added Governor Waiguru.
“This programme has come at a time when the country is preparing for the predicted El nino rains. The CHPs will play a vital role in facilitating disease surveillance at the household level and ultimately help in the management of illnesses associated with floods,” noted the CoG Health Committee Chair H.E Muthomi Njuki.
The CHPs are mandated to visit 100 households every two to three months to provide services to all Kenyans from the comfort of their homes. At this level, most basic screenings and tests will be offered free of charge, including weight, blood pressure, sugar levels and other primary services.
They will also counsel families on health improvement and disease prevention, provide basic first aid for common illness and minor injuries, conduct basic health screening during home visits and refer serious cases to level four or five hospitals depending on the condition of the patients.