Kitui Governor Julius Malombe has resolved to commit resources and efforts to fight impacts of climate change.
Malombe said this is part of his pledge to Kitui people when he took office on August 25, 2022.
The promises include building a strong and resilient community hinged on principles of environmental conservation and protection.
“At the centre of my resolve is to address climate change impact,” Malombe said in a speech read by Environment executive John Mwendandu.
He spoke on Friday during the seventh national workshop of Kenya Meteorological Society.
The forum brought together meteorological professionals, university research scientists, agricultural, water and environmental experts and farmers from Kitui county.
It was themed, Building resilience on the impacts of climate change extremes by local communities.
Kenya Meteorological department director David Gikungu attended the event.
“In my transformative agenda dubbed The Kitui Promise, I have outlined my government’s commitment to preserve the environment and ensure we build a legacy of safe space for current and future generations," Malombe said.
He said policies and laws towards environmental rehabilitation and conservation are already in place.
The laws and policies seek to protect wetlands and riverine and also conduct capacity building for communities.
“My government has initiated the formulation and enactment of suitable policies and regulations such as County climate change action plan 2023-202, County environment and climate change policy 2023 and County climate fund regulations,” Malombe said.
The most recent measure was the enactment of the County River Basins and Sand Utilisation and Conservation Act 2024 and the County River Basins and Sand utiliSation and Conservation policy to control sand harvesting.
Gikungu urged farmers to follow weather information and advisory from Met.
“Our services are well-defined. We have people with vast knowledge in your midst, please make good use of them, before I take them back,” he said.
Kitui county director of meteorological services, Daniel Mbithi said in the past 37 years, the county's annual rainfall decreased by 70 mm.
Temperatures, in the past 31 years, have increased by about 1.2 degrees Celsius.