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An environmental lobby group has called on the Kisumu government to expedite implementation of climate change mitigation projects.
This follows the delays in initiating the community driven-climate projects funded by the World Bank through Financing Locally Led Climate Action.
Sustainable Environmental Development Watch project officer Wendy Mitoko said Kisumu should speedily implement the projects.
The implementation was projected to start in the 2023-2024 financial year but has delayed because of the ongoing environment and social systems assessment.
The ESSA is aimed at guiding the management of environment and social risks and impacts for the FLLOCA programmes.
Mitoko acknowledged report delays but challenged the government to prioritise mitigation of climate change impacts through fast-tracking climate financing implementation.
Already, Kisumu has received Sh55 million out of the Sh273 million FLLOCA funds from the World Bank. The FLLOCA is being implemented through the Programme Implementation Unit.
“We are appealing for enhanced effectiveness of climate finance in the county to reduce climate vulnerability and strengthen community resilience to climate change,” Mitoko said.
Of the Sh273 million, the county allocated Sh100 million in the 2023-24 financial year.
The fund, which is two per cent of the county's development budget, targets to address climate-related challenges through community-driven resilience projects.
The Sh100 million will fund six projects spread across the county. Mitoko said the FLLOCA programme objective is to strengthen local resilience to the impact of climate change and natural hazards through building local capacity.
She urged the county government to fully engage and incorporate residents in planning, budgeting and financing climate change mitigation programs.
“For realisation of the programmes, counties should fully engage locals on budgeting, implementation and monitoring resilience investments in a way that promotes collaborative partnerships between communities, national and county governments,” Mitoko said.
She advocated for a proactive measure on mitigation of climate change, which should be community-driven.
Mitoko pledged that BCORT funded by Christian Aid will continue to empower community-based organisations and other stakeholders in Kisumu on climate justice, climate change advocacy, devolution and good governance.
Kisumu climate change director Evans Gichana said the county government works with residents to build community resilience and reduce vulnerabilities to a changing climate.
The projects are community-driven since they find themselves on the frontline of the climate change crisis.
Gichana said the Sh100 million in the 2023-24 financial year will fund six projects
“We have fully engaged and incorporated residents in planning, budgeting and financing climate change mitigation programmes through ward climate change planning committees,” he said.
In Kisumu West, Sh10 million has been allocated for the construction of Paga water project and Sh10 million for Koyombe water pan in Nyakach.
The county has allocated Sh20 million to Awach water project in Seme. Some Sh30 million has been set aside for Kisumu county climate change resource centre in Railways ward, Kisumu Central.
In Nyando, Sh25 million has been allocated for the procurement of rear load garbage compression compact truck.
Gichana said Sh5 million will be used for expansion of Siso (2) canal in Nyando to help curb flooding.
The director said the county has already launched a community-driven climate change risk assessment in the 35 wards in Kisumu.
The assessment aims to ensure participation of residents at ward level in decision-making on matters of adaptation and addressing the effects of climate change.
Gichana said the assessment will facilitate the rollout of the report across the county.
"The risk assessment report factored public participation in identifying climate risks within the community and supporting them to find possible and viable solutions,” he said.
Besides the Sh100 million allocation, Gichana said there is the World Bank-funded for county governments through grants, FLLOCA, which focuses on development projects at wards.
The counties are expecting about Sh136 million each towards county climate resilience investments.
The fund is aimed at strengthening local resilience to the impact of climate change, natural hazards and other stressors by building the country’s capacity to plan, implement and monitor resilience investments.
Gichana said the money will go towards development projects focusing on community at the ward level.