Homa Bay County has completed the formation of ward-level climate change committees to implement the county’s climate resilience investments under the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme.
The initiative aims to strengthen local resilience to climate impacts, natural hazards, and other shocks by building capacity for planning, budgeting, and monitoring resilience projects.
Roy Odongo, Homa Bay Director for Environment and Climate Change, said committee members will coordinate activities that promote greening and environmental protection. Key focus areas include agriculture, water, and forestry.
The committees will follow FLLoCA guidelines to predict environmental and social risks, and the county has allocated about Sh22 million to establish the necessary structures.
Planned activities include:
Distribution of drought-resistant seeds and bio-fertilisers.
Sinking boreholes and installing solar water pumps.
Establishing community tree nurseries in partnership with the Kenya Forest Service.
Each ward committee includes male and female youth green champions and youth with disabilities. Residents were urged to safeguard these projects to ensure sustainable development and improve living standards.
Odongo emphasized the participatory nature of the programme: We should avoid vandalising projects meant to help our people. The project is participatory and we should join it to build society.