Hope for Homa Bay as Wanga assents to climate change law

Homabay County Governor Gladys Wanga when she launched a monthly cleanup exercise on October 17, 2022. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Experts have expressed optimism that the new legislation on climate change will enhance adaptation in Homa Bay County.

This comes after Governor Gladys Wanga assented to the Climate Change Bill, 2020 on Wednesday.

The Act has created two coordinating committees on climate change activities, at the county and ward levels.

At the ward level, the committee will mobilise communities and other stakeholders to design and implement climate change response activities. It will facilitate research and knowledge on climate change, its impact and strategies for response.

The committee will also conduct public education, awareness creation and capacity building on climate change.

At the county level, the legislation has established a Climate Change Technical Committee which coordinates, plans and implements projects and activities for climate change response in the county.

Climate change experts have expressed hope that the law will boost the fight against the adverse impact of climate change.

University of Nairobi Lecturer of Climatology Clifford Omondi said the establishment of the County Climate Change Fund will enhance the generation of resources for enhancing climate change adaptation and resilience.

Omondi, who hails from Homa Bay, said lack of funding has made it difficult to fight adverse impact of climate change.

He said the county has various issues of environmental degradation which should be mitigated effectively.

"We thank Wanga for assenting to the Bill. Homa Bay residents have been affected by floods and other forms of environmental degradation resulting from climate change. This Act has created a fund which will be used for responding to the issues," Omondi said.

He said the Fund will also provide resources for empowering residents on smart climate agriculture to improve food security in the county.

Homa Bay County Assembly Committee on Climate Change chairman Erick Omollo said the Act will enhance external funding to fight against adversity of climate change.