Trans Nzoia residents back proposed climate laws

A forest and part of Mt Elgon Water Tower in Trans Nzoia County has been destroyed by the cutting down of trees, threatening its ecosystem functions such as the provision of water.

Trans Nzoia County government is pursuing new legislation to help it tackle climate change.

The Climate Change Bill 2023 proposes a raft of changes believed to transform the response and mitigation to the effects of climate change.

The Bill was subjected to a three-day public participation and was endorsed by residents who lauded its potential to establish a robust framework for addressing climate change.

Patrick Gacheru, outgoing County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Water, Environment, Natural Resource and Climate Change (WENRCC) the provisions contained in the Bill are for the benefit of residents.

He said the draft empowers Ward Climate Change Planning Committees (WCCPCs) to facilitate coordination between local communities and the county government in tackling climate-related issues.

The comprehensive draft, comprising nine distinct sections, outlines the roles and composition of WCCPCs, the Climate Change Unit (CCU), the County Planning Committee, and the County Steering Committee.

Gacheru outlined the legislative process, noting that the validated draft would proceed to the county assembly for debate and subsequent approval, culminating in the governor’s assent—a pivotal step in establishing the bylaw.

Upon enactment, he added, the new environmental law will supersede the existing Trans Nzoia County Climate Change Fund Act, 2021, addressing previously identified gaps and ensuring a more comprehensive regulatory framework.

Gacheru emphasised the need for an upgraded legal document, stating; “There was a need to replace the Trans Nzoia County Climate Change Fund Act that fell short of many vital frameworks of dealing with this monster called Climate Change, we engaged experts to come up with a more comprehensive legal document.”