Kenya needs to review its legislative framework to shield the country’s agriculture from climate change associated losses, experts, policymakers, and industry leaders have said.
Agriculture, a key pillar of Kenya’s economy, is increasingly vulnerable to erratic weather patterns, drought, and floods, leading to substantial crop and livestock losses in recent years.
This has prompted experts, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to gather in Nairobi to address the escalating effects of climate change and evidence-based policies and strategies for resilience and adaptation.
To achieve this, Senior Vice President for American Institutes for Research (AIR), David Seidenfeld, said the country review its social protection policies.
“The work being done in Kenya to address and adapt to the effects of climate change will not only improve the lives of its citizens by fostering a healthier, more sustainable future, but it can also serve as a blueprint for other countries and communities across Africa and beyond,” said Seidenfeld.
According to a report by the United Nations, the cost of mitigation and adaptation and compensation for loss and damage is estimated to be about $580 billion (Sh74.8 trillion) in 2030 and could be as high as $1.8 trillion (Sh232 trillion) by 2050.
In partnership with Kenyatta University, AIR will evaluate social protection programs such as cash transfers and women’s savings groups to assess how they help households cope with climate-induced challenges.
Kenyatta University Vice Chancellor Waceke Wanjohi, and Seidenfeld, said the five year partnership is set to influence policy by combining research with on-the-ground realities, focusing specifically on how climate change, particularly droughts and floods, impacts households and communities in sub-Saharan Africa.
“The goal is to ensure that research directly informs policies and provides actionable solutions for policymakers in Kenya. A multidisciplinary approach is essential if we are to develop comprehensive solutions capable of meeting the challenges posed by climate change,” said Waceke.
Kenya is already grappling with severe climate-related challenges, from extreme temperatures to prolonged droughts and destructive floods, all of which have affected the country’s food systems.
The Principal Secretary for
Environment and Climate Change,
Festus Ng’eno said by investing in
climate-smart agriculture and health
interventions, the country can protect
its people and drive long-term development.