Pray yes, but climate crisis calls for right policy

President William Ruto (second right) and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua (second left) with their spouses during the National Solemn Assembly at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, on February 14, 2023. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

Three years since rain patterns became unpredictable and rains gave the Horn of Africa a wild berth, the expected is happening: Extreme heat, drought, rivers drying, livestock and wildlife dying, rain-fed agriculture becoming unreliable and water stress, even for those with boreholes.

Sources of livelihoods are lost. Several hunger-related diseases abound. Many children miss school, and soon inequality will be the conversation. People will turn to forests and other natural resources; life must continue.

Life on land and in water will be disrupted or lost, a recipe for human/wildlife conflict. Gains made in the 17 SDGs will be watered down in a duration shorter than it took to achieve them.

The "IPES-Food" (International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems) special report has this week shown the twin tragedy of spiralling debt and hunger in Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

While Kenya is not an LDC, effects of year-long Russia's invasion of Ukraine still linger. Huge debts, a recipe for hunger and starvation, have also bedevilled the country. This week alone the Shilling was at the mercy of the Dollar, hitting lows of 135 at a time importation of foodstuff, fertiliser and a lot more, even as we export tea, and a lot more, is inevitable.

Agriculture, the country's economic backbone on which food security, the stock market, financial and many other sectors are pegged, is badly hit by the climate crisis. But what to do!

Like a driver who ignores that red 'E' flag on a car's dashboard, only to stall when the fuel runs out, then eventually still use the money they had all along to buy gas, the government and the international community have failed us.

Suddenly, there is increased effort to give relief food (in front of cameras) to hunger-stricken pastoralist communities when the weatherman, UN-affiliated organisations, government and scientists saw this coming, and confessed it.

Pastoralists, whose images of emaciated children, women and livestock flood media platforms, need longer-lasting solutions, considering the livestock sector hugely supports the economy and is a source of income for millions, especially where crop farming is unsustainable.

Many have little knowledge on climate change, and like my mother, are likely to resort to praying for rain, then "leave everything to God". The Pastoralists Parliamentary Group needs to push for policies that will ensure sustainable solutions to the perennial climate crisis in the ASALs.

They, in partnership with specialised pastoralist organisations, must strategise to grab opportunities around the Loss and Damage fund once operational, and the other finances. They must promote maximum community participation in County Integrated Development Plans, formulation of policies that guide land and water use, agriculture and timely access to markets before people's livestock are snatched by drought.

Overall, we must have our priorities right and limit wastage. Prayers, for instance, though good, do not have to be in rallies, or have a paid team to fast for the country, especially if it costs taxpayers millions.

That money can be used in Isiolo or Turkana, for an irrigation project for sustainable food supply. Sacrifices will have to be made beyond the budgetary allocations to deal faster with the climate crisis. These include true zero tolerance to corruption.

Climate change is a reality, and will not be reversed by a generation that thinks there is still time to play. The government must increase the pace on just transition to renewable energy, invest in capacity building on the problem at hand for maximum community-led and nature-based solutions.

To tackle the existential climate crisis, Kenya needs practical solutions tethered on policies, not just prayers.