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West Pokot County-Climate Change Impacts, Priorities and Governance

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West Pokot County-Climate Change Impacts, Priorities and Governance Domestic Technical Consultation With County Officials,23rd and 24th January,2020 , Azure hotel, Nairobi, Kenya Experiences Session 1: Climate Changes Impacts, Priorities & Governance Challenges in west Pokot county Prepared by: Carren Nasiaki Kirungu (Msc.Envt.Mgt) County Land Reclamation Officer West Pokot county Email: [email protected] Cellphone:0726761561 WEST POKOT COUNTY FACTS : 74.5% arid and semi arid • covers 9,169 square km, of which 41% is arable (Gok, 2013). • Irrigation is used by 1.4% of the households. Climate change impacts • The county is 74.5% ASAL, with a forest cover of only 3.9%, a fragile ecosystem, with low investment in environmental goods and services. This increases the county’s vulnerability to climate change. Poverty levels currently stand at 57.4 percent (KIHBS, 2016) and livelihood economy is highly pastoral and dependent on natural resources (pasture, water, Fuel wood, timber, wild fruits,) which are sensitive to climatic conditions. Climate change impacts (climate risk profile) • Unreliable and great variation in total amount and patterns of the bimodal rainfall type. Long rains in the past usually started in March to August but in 2019, they delayed until June and short rains between October and December. The high and sudden precipitation witnessed in December caused massive landslides in pokot central sub county. • Constant failure of maize and sorghum crop farming in the lowland areas due to droughts. • Increased occurrence of floods and massive soil erosion in both highlands and lowlands. Torrential rainfall, landslide and mudflows have become common in Lelan Ward- (Koghmu, Mokoyon, Lain, Chesorom, Chepkono villages), Batei Ward - (Penon, Parua, Sondany, Ortum, Kerelwa), Weiwei Ward - (Muino, Tororo, Solion, Psakas, Boito), Lomut Ward - (Chepkokogh, Cheratak, Tilakai) Climate change impacts • Droughts have prolonged causing farmers to shift to riparian cultivation. This aggravates siltation in the lower parts of Rivers Suam, Weiwei, Kerio, Muruny,. • Increased trading on wood fuel and charcoal. Most households in Riwo, Suam, Masol, and Lower Wards of Kapenguria, Mangei, Chepareria, Batei, Sekerr, Weiwei, Lomut have engaged in the Charcoal business for survival thereby increasing deforestation and consequently the impacts of climate change. • Cross border migration of livestock in search of pasture and water contributes to breakup of family units, education for children, poor health services/amenities and low economic productivity ,as well as, increased conflict among neighbouring communities(Marakwet, Turkana, Karamojong and Sebei), counties (West Pokot, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo and Countries (Uganda and Kenya). • There is reduced crop and livestock productivity due to temperature variation, reduced precipitation and increased crop pests and diseases for example the lowlands experience temperatures of up to 30Oc and the highlands experience temperatures of up to 15oC. These high temperatures in the lowlands cause high evapo-transpiration which is un-favorable for crop production Climate change impacts • There is reduced water volume in the main rivers (Kerio, Muruny, Weiwei, Sighya, Kibas, Nzoia, and Suam) due to deforestation in the Water towers, encroachment of wetlands, cultivation along river banks, and effects of global warming. These have resulted in conflict between the upstream and downstream users. • Low recharge of aquifers causing low water table and low volumes in wells and boreholes Climate change impacts- landslide in pokot central Severe soil erosion in Emboasis primary in west pokot county Flooding in river weiwei priorities 1. Forestry • Carrying out community training on climate change Enacting laws that protects, manages and conserves county forests Establishing drought resistant trees and fruit trees in drylands Establish Trees nurseries to increase the provision of seedlings Protection of water catchments, riverbanks, swamps and fragile lands 2. Agriculture Provision of downscaled weather information and farm inputs, water harvesting, research and dissemination of drought resistant crops, proper management of agricultural waste e.g. using manure instead of inorganic and promotion of agroforestry especially tree-based intercropping. 3. Water Construction of dams and water pans, protection of water towers, river banks and water bodies. Building capacity for water quality improvement and awareness campaign to promote water efficiency measures. 4. Livestock/pastoralism Breeding of animals that adapt well to climate vagaries, regular vaccination campaigns, promotion of economic livelihood diversification; e.g. cultivation of drought-tolerant food crops such as millet and bee-keeping for honey production and awareness campaigns awareness campaigns among pastoral communities to underscore the importance of balancing stocking rates with the available land resources as a way of ensuring sustainable pastoralism. priorities 5. Infrastructure Ensuring that the infrastructure is climate-proofed over its lifespan which includes the construction of culverts, factoring a maintenance component into all infrastructural development funds and designing infrastructure that can withstand the prevailing climate conditions. 6. Disaster Management Strengthening disaster preparedness; proper planning of urban settlements which takes into consideration the expected high growth rate of urban population due to climate-induced migration from rural areas to urban centres priorities • Existence of a county environment committee though not yet gazetted. Governance challenges Through the 2018-2022 CIDP, Many projects addressing climate change impacts have Been identified and documented. However, there exists challenges in fully implementing the priority areas. The challenges identified in West Pokot county include the following; Governance challenges • The climate change policy and bill has not been domesticated by the county assembly • Low funding on climate smart initiatives • Untimely/ late funding hindering successful implementation of projects that depend on weather/ climate • Uncoordinated efforts among the key players Governance challenges • Low/ inadequate number of staff to mainstream climate change issues. • Inadequate knowledge among the key actors and stakeholders on mainstreaming the climate change agenda/ the harmonized climate change indicators. • Political interference. • Inadequate dissemination of the relevant information to stakeholders. Priorities and governance challenges • Lack of funds for mainstreaming climate change in the county since it is usually not factored in the budget. Thanks for listening attentively ANY QUESTIONS?.
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