Ruto can use boda boda riders, mama mboga 'hustlers' to carry climate change message

As the world congregates at the Sharm El-Sheikh resort town in Egypt next week for the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), the role and place of grassroots and rural women and youth in climate action should be highlighted.

From the time we adopted the National Climate Change Response Strategy in 2010, Kenya has been on a consistent path in adopting policies, laws and institutions on climate change. Through this strategy and other instruments that followed such as the first National Climate Change Action Plan (2013), the National Adaptation Plan (2015), the National Climate Change Framework Policy and the National Climate Change Act (2016), the country has taken steps to contain climate change. At the sub-national level, several county governments have enacted climate change laws and policies and are in the process of implementing them.

In other words, there is no shortage of policy or legislative frameworks on climate change in Kenya.

Yet, the impact of climate change continues to be greater and is now felt in every facet of life. This year alone, nearly 4 million Kenyans in 27 counties face starvation resulting from long drought, crop failure and loss of livestock.

Where, then, are the gaps? What are the missing links? Is the situation entirely bleak or hopeless?

Making an impact

A look at recent events reveals that certain things appear right, which presents the best opportunity yet for Kenya to link the normative prescriptions in laws and policies with everyday realities, lives and struggles of ordinary Kenyans to achieve a bigger impact in climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience.

First, there is unprecedented political goodwill and focus on climate change at the highest level of government. Since assuming office in September 2022, President William Ruto has consistently spoken about climate change, whether while addressing the world on the biggest global platform, the United Nations General Assembly in October, or worshipers in a rural church. Through this articulation, the national conversation is now increasingly focused on issues such as reforestation, clean energy and climate finance.

Similarly, First Lady Rachel Ruto has aptly taken up climate change as her signature legacy issue. The choice of Ms Soipan Tuya to spearhead Kenya's climate action initiatives as the Cabinet Secretary for Environment was also fitting.

Ms Tuya has been a consistent crusader for community land rights and environmental conservation. The goodwill from the President and the First Lady is important for various reasons:

First, Mrs Ruto has been the brains behind Joyful Women Organisation (JOYWO), a women's economic empowerment organisation a wide network of grassroots women throughout Kenya. Through this movement and similar ones, the First Lady's, and indeed all, efforts on climate change can easily reach millions of women in urban and rural areas alike.

This is a powerful opportunity because women are the main drivers of rural economic activity especially subsistence agriculture and livestock keeping, which contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Once empowered with skills on climate resilient agriculture, they can become influential agents of sustainable climate action.

Domestic adjustments

Domestic chores such as cooking using firewood are responsible for the depletion of forest cover and are major contributors of greenhouse gases. Women need to be supported to transition to clean and renewable energy for household chores through use of solar jikos and solar lighting.

Women account for about 52 per cent of Kenya's population. If targeted and involved in the proposed campaign to plant five billion trees in the next five years, they can contribute to faster achievement of the 30 per cent forest cover target.

Finally, women often bear the brunt of conflicts and internal displacements that arise from climate change. When communities fight over water sources or grazing land as happened recently in Kitui county between herders from Garissa county and residents of Kitui, women not only suffer physical harm but are forced to walk even longer distances in search of water.

JOYWO and other network of grassroots women are a potent army of climate action agents.

Second, during the campaigns, the Kenya Kwanza "Hustler Nation" mantra created a consciousness among millions of unemployed youth and women (the "hustlers") that they need to be active participants in the country's economic and political life. This consciousness must now be channelled to useful climate action initiatives.

Hustlers' role

The "hustlers" can become agents or champions of climate action. Already, the President has indicated that the youth who were previously employed in the Kazi Mtaani programme will be involved in tree planting.

Beyond tree planting, the boda boda riders and 'mama mboga' can provide an extensive and pervasive network of climate change educators. They can be literal carriers of climate change messages.

The Hustlers Fund, which will be launched in December, provides an opportunity for integration of climate actions into businesses that will be funded and, through it, everyday "hustles" of beneficiaries. Participating cooperative societies or groups can be avenues for educating members, raising their awareness on climate change and mobilising them to participate in initiatives such as tree planting. Designers of the Fund can consider including a requirement that projects that promote clean energy (such as buying electric boda bodas as opposed to diesel-powered ones) or climate-resilient agribusiness initiatives stand a better chance of getting funded. Climate financing must deliberately and aggressively target and involve the hustler youth and women.

Third, all county governments must pass climate change policies and laws and implement them urgently and fully by ensuring that their planning and budgeting frameworks such as the county integrated development plans (CIDPs), annual development plans and annual budgets integrate climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience building actions.

Institutions such as the Controller of Budget, Council of Governors, the County Assemblies Forum and regional economic blocs like the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) and the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) must be supported so that they can, in turn, help to build the capacities of county governments to effectively implement the climate change initiatives in a coherent and coordinated manner.

Finally, sector-wide approaches, which bring together government, civil society, private sector and development partners, to coordinate their climate actions need to be adopted. These actors cannot continue to operate in silos as they have done previously. We cannot afford to lose more time. The planet cannot afford it.

* Lawyers Lokaale and Kiptoo have an interest in Climate Change and Devolved Governance. They are immediate former Speakers of the County Assemblies of Turkana and Nandi respectively.