Kajiado County in Kenya’s Rift Valley region has received a major financial support in the fight against climate change after it was allocated Ksh159.5 million ($1.3 million) under the County Climate Resilience Investment Grant (CCRIG).

The grant, part of the national Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) initiative, includes a Ksh22 million ($170,016) contribution from the county government to promote climate-smart solutions that will help restore degraded ecosystems and strengthen the region’s resilience to climate-related challenges.

Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Mulongo Barasa announced the allocation during her inspection visit to Kerarapon Springs at Oloolua Ward in Kajiado County.

Dr Barasa who was accompanied by Kajiado Deputy Governor Martin Moshisho and Deputy Director for Climate Change Thomas Lerenten, among other officials, emphasised the importance of aligning county-level initiatives with the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), which provides a framework for unified climate response across Kenya.

“Kajiado is well-placed to lead in restoring ecosystems. With its current tree cover standing at 10 per cent spanning over 239,000 hectares, the county is capable of greatly expanding its green footprint,” Barasa said.

She said the ministry will support Kajiado’s ambitious 10-year goal to plant 623 million trees, a key contribution toward Kenya’s national target of 15 billion trees by 2032. The cabinet secretary also underlined the critical role of collaboration between national and county governments in advancing Kenya’s environmental agenda.

In her opinion, county climate officials have already undergone specialised training through Climate Change Directorate with additional capacity-building programmes planned for broader county leadership.

Kajiado’s unique and diverse landscapes, ranging from forests and grasslands to rivers and wetlands were identified as vital assets in achieving sustainable development goals. Barasa noted that the preservation of these ecological systems not only advances Kenya’s afforestation agenda but also strengthens essential environmental services that benefit local communities.

Kajiado deputy governor pointed out that the cabinet secretary’s visit marked a significant milestone in the operationalization of FLLoCA at the county level. He reiterated that the financial allocation is expected to accelerate Kajiado’s climate resilience initiatives, supporting Kenya’s broader vision for environmental sustainability and green economic development.

Moshisho observed that the construction of a perimeter wall around the Kerarapon water springs and catchment area will safeguard the site from encroachment and benefit the community by preventing dumping and reducing siltation, thereby ensuring a consistent supply of clean water flowing downstream all the way to the Mbagathi River.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Rop Janet