For years, Kirinyaga County’s farming communities have faced worsening climate challenges ranging from unpredictable rains, prolonged droughts, and shrinking water sources. To address these, the County, through the Department of Environment, Energy, Climate Change, Natural Resources, Water and Irrigation, rolled out targeted interventions under the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme.
With strong community participation and support from the County Climate Change Policy (2023) and Act (2023), Kirinyaga implemented practical solutions to boost resilience, improve livelihoods, and promote sustainability.
Key Interventions:
- Clean energy: Distributed 5,800 LPG cylinders and stoves to vulnerable households, reducing firewood use by 40% and cutting smoke-related illnesses by 60%.
- Waste management: Installed 30 waste skips and acquired a skip loader truck, reducing roadside waste by 80% and paving the way for a recycling economy.
- Water security: Through the Jiinue Rupingazi Project, drilled a borehole and installed treatment facilities, providing 750 households with safe, reliable water.
- Land restoration & livelihoods: Constructed runoff diversion ditches, distributed 20,000 avocado seedlings, and supported aquaculture with a fish feed extruder machine, benefiting 550 fish farmers and reducing soil erosion by 60%.
With a total investment of KES 123.4 million, these initiatives have transformed community resilience, improved environmental health, and enhanced household incomes.
Community-led planning ensured inclusivity, while collaboration across sectors delivered stronger, lasting results. Quick-win projects like LPG kits built public trust, while larger infrastructure projects laid the groundwork for long-term sustainability.
What initiative has your County taken to build climate resilience and support locally-led action?
Visit https://maarifa.cog.go.ke/ to learn more about the successful initiatives on service delivery our Counties are undertaking.
By Angela Wangeci
Kirinyaga County