NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 4 – Kenyan Counties are set to receive Sh7.387 billion from the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Program under the Climate Resilience Investment Grants.
The disbursement comes after the fist and second cycles of Sh979 million were disbursed to counties as seed funding to support the development of County Climate Change Investment Plans.
The funding from the National Treasury and Economic Planning will help counties develop and implement tailored climate resilience strategies geared at securing a more sustainable and secure future for local communities across Kenya.
“The release of these initial grants to counties represents an important milestone in our country’s mission to address the impacts of climate change across our nation. By empowering County Governments with the necessary resources, we can ensure that our communities are better prepared to face the impact of climate change,” said President William Samoei Ruto.
The initial funding will support counties in the implementation of innovative climate actions driven by local initiatives at the community level.
This inventive methodology guarantees the active participation of local communities in recognizing, evaluating, and addressing climate-related risks.
Simultaneously, it promotes productive partnerships among County Governments, experts, and community residents.
Furthermore, it ensures that strategies for climate resilience are all-encompassing and tailored to the specific context.
Commenting on the initiative, Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, Professor Njuguna Ndung’u, noted: “We believe that meaningful change begins at the grassroots level, and this is why we are committed to involving communities in the decision-making process.”
“By strengthening local engagement, we are not only equipping citizens with the tools and knowledge to combat climate change but also inspiring the next generation of climate leaders”.
On her part, the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Soipan Tuya, said that there was a need to focus on the grassroots to make climate change mitigation a reality.
“We are at a critical stage in our fight against climate change, and it is therefore paramount to take bold, decisive action to safeguard our planet and its inhabitants. The CCRI grants are designed to provide the necessary resources and support to communities and innovators as they develop creative, and effective locally-led strategies to combat the impact of climate change and mitigate its consequences thereof,” she said.
Council of Governors Chairperson Anne Waiguru, who is also the Governor of Kirinyaga, noted that by actively involving local communities in the decision-making process, the county governments can develop more effective and context-specific strategies that take into account the unique challenges faced by each county.
“The disbursement of the grants represents a significant milestone in the journey towards a climate-resilient Kenya. 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”.
The FLLoCA Program will continue to provide ongoing technical support and capacity-building assistance to County Governments throughout the entire process to ensure the successful utilization of the CCIS grants and implementation of the PCRA process.
