UNDP helps Kenya tackle climate change

Kenya said on Friday it has received 7.7 million U.S. dollars from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) for implementation of the Climate Change Action Plan.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Environment Richard Lesiyampe said another 10 million dollars from the Adaptation Fund was in the pipeline.

Lesiyampe said the country was already feeling the effects of climate change, adding that the funds had come at the right time.

"The funds will be used to put in mitigation measures to address climate change, and we expect the project to kick off next week," he said during the annual low emission and climate change resilient development workshop in Naivasha.

Lesiyampe said that under a three-year program, the funds would be used in various projects in the counties like a shift from use of charcoal to solar energy.

He said the climate change bill, the only kind in the continent, was waiting for third reading in parliament before it came into operation.

Leisyampe identified some of the weather vagaries been felt in the country as erratic rains, flooding and perennial drought.

"It's not only human beings that are feeling the effects of the climate change but also wildlife, the ecosystem and livestock have been affected," he said.

UNDP Program Analyst Timothy Ranja said the organization would continue to support efforts to address climate change vagaries.

"We expect to start implementing the climate change action plan next week and we expect tangible results soon," he said. Endi