Kisumu County has set aside Sh100 million to fund local climate change mitigation initiatives, underscoring the county’s commitment to building resilience against environmental challenges. The allocation, representing two percent of the county’s development budget, will finance six community-driven projects across various wards in the 2023-24 financial year.
Speaking during a consultative meeting organised by Sustwach Kenya under the Building Community Resilience through Transparent County Climate Finance project, Climate Change Director Evans Gichana emphasised that the projects are designed with full community participation. Residents are at the frontline of climate impacts. By involving them in planning and budgeting, we ensure practical and sustainable solutions, he said.
The funding breakdown includes Sh10 million each for the Paga water project in Kisumu West and the Koyombe water pan in Nyakach, and Sh20 million for the Awach water project in Seme. Kisumu Central will host a Sh30 million climate change resource centre in Railways ward. In Nyando, Sh25 million is earmarked for a rear-load garbage compression truck, while Sh5 million will be used to expand the Siso (2) canal to mitigate flooding risks.
The county has also undertaken a ward-level climate risk assessment across all 35 wards, ensuring public participation in identifying local climate hazards and developing tailored interventions. Gichana noted that this participatory approach helps communities design effective adaptation strategies and informs the rollout of county-wide climate initiatives.
In addition to the Sh100 million allocation, Kisumu will benefit from the World Bank-funded FLLOCA programme, which provides grants for ward-level resilience investments. The County Climate Resilience Investment (CCRI) fund, expected to disburse around Sh136 million to each county, will support projects such as agroforestry, reforestation, climate-smart agriculture, water conservation, and rehabilitation of degraded rangelands.
These projects aim to strengthen local resilience, enhance agricultural productivity, and promote sustainable resource management, Gichana explained. He added that the county has trained communities and climate actors to ensure the initiatives are effectively implemented.
By prioritising community-led projects, Kisumu hopes to empower residents while tackling climate-related challenges, setting a model for participatory and transparent climate action at the county level.