Makueni – Governor Mutula Kilonzo Junior has announced a series of resilience-building strategies in Makueni County aimed at combating climate change. During the State of the County address at the Makueni County Assembly in Wote town, Mutula highlighted the county’s commitment to climate action, including a significant financial allocation and community-based initiatives.
According to Kenya News Agency, the county administration has allocated Sh. 66 million for climate action plans in the 2023/2024 financial year. He emphasized the participatory approach taken by the county, noting the training of 900 community members on climate risks and the establishment of 30 Ward Climate Change Planning Committees for better coordination and implementation of climate actions.
Mutula also mentioned the adoption of green energy, particularly solar energy for water pumping, as part of the county’s efforts. The establishment of an Energy Centre at Kisingo Vocational Technical Training Institute in Makindu Ward is aimed at enhancing renewable energy use and awareness. A comprehensive Energy Plan, developed with assistance from the Water Resources Institute (WRI), Strathmore University, and the UK Pact, is nearing completion and awaits approval. This plan is expected to transform the county’s energy usage and attract investment.
In terms of water conservation and agriculture, the Governor highlighted the Roads for Water (Green Roads) Initiative, which involves harvesting road runoff water for agricultural use. This project, engaging youth and manual labor, harvests over 200,000 cubic meters of water each rainy season. Additionally, the county is focusing on irrigation to overcome the limitations of rain-fed agriculture and boost food security. Current irrigation projects include the Kikome, Kathambalani, and Mbavani schemes, targeting hundreds of acres for irrigation.
The construction of the Utini-Yikitaa (UYI) Earth dam in Masongaleni Ward, a collaboration with the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), is underway and set to benefit over 65,000 people and 500,000 livestock. The project, with a total cost of Sh. 55 Million, sees contributions from NDMA, the County Government, and the community.
Additionally, the reclamation process of the Kiu Wetland in Makindu Ward, Kibwezi West Constituency, has begun as part of the Chyulu Water Towers conservation effort. Governor Mutula also stated that 120,000 trees have been planted towards the county’s goal of 344 million trees by 2032, with additional support from various partners for further tree planting and fencing of the catchment area.