KAKAMEGA LAYS STRATEGIES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

Kakamega County Governor H.E FCPA Fernandes Barasa on Wednesday launched a comprehensive Climate Change Action Plan comprising of adaptation and mitigation actions geared towards enhancing community resilience for improved livelihoods.

Speaking at Mung’ang’a, East Wanga Ward in Mumias East Sub-County during the event, Governor Barasa said his administration will implement various climate actions with support from the World Bank through the National Treasury under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Actions (FLLoCA) Program and other Partners as well as members of the public who he termed as key stakeholders in the climate change campaign.

The County boss further issued Non-motorized transport (bicycles) donated by World Bicycle Relief to 150 Ward Climate Committee Members and 200 bicycles to Community Health Promoters (Chaps) to enhance implementation of the action plans in all the 60 Wards across the County. Additionally, the Governor launched tree nursery establishment materials where at least 3 groups from every Sub-County benefitted with Polythene tubes and seeds; an initiative aimed at generating at least 90,000 seedlings per Sub-County for restoration of degraded landscape and conservation of water catchment areas.

To ensure existence of proper climate Governance structures, FCPA Barasa commissioned 60 Ward Climate Change Planning Committees, the Kakamega County Climate Change Technical Working Group and the County Climate Change Steering Committee.

The event was also attended by First Lady Kakamega County H.E Prof. Janet Kassily Barasa, CECMs, MCAs’, Government officers from both levels of Government led by Dr Lawrence Omuhaka, Partners led by Ms Maureen Kolenyo of Buffalo Bicycles and Ms Jane Bevi of USAID Western Kenya Water Project among others.