How Climate Change is Affecting Kenyans

Climate change poses a significant threat to Kenya, affecting various aspects of life, from agriculture and water resources to health and infrastructure. Despite the urgent need for action, managing and mitigating climate change in Kenya has proven to be a complex and challenging task.

One of the primary challenges in managing climate change in Kenya is the country's economic constraints.

As a developing nation, Kenya faces numerous economic pressures that limit its ability to invest in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

The costs associated with transitioning to renewable energy, enhancing infrastructure resilience, and implementing sustainable agricultural practices are significant and often compete with other pressing national needs. "Financial limitations are a major barrier to effective climate change management in Kenya," Faith Karanja, an environmental economist at the University of Nairobi says.

Agriculture forms the backbone of Kenya’s economy, employing around 70% of the population and contributing roughly a third of the national GDP. With climate change intensifying and global temperatures rising, agriculture is negatively impacted especially the traditional farming which is increasingly becoming unviable. The impacts include declining agricultural productivity and loss of crops, livestock, fish and investments in agriculture due to changing temperatures and precipitation regimes and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. 

Further, fisheries and aquaculture are affected through acidification of the water bodies, changes in water temperatures and circulation patterns which alter the physico-chemical properties of the fish habitats and ultimately the productivity. This has led to the sky-rocketing of prices of food stuffs as a result of reduction in yields will therefore disproportionately affect the poor. This will in turn necessitate increase in social protection spending by government aimed at poor households in both rural and urban areas. 

But farmers have adapted and embraced climate smart practices to counter the climate changes. In Tharaka Nithi County, for instance, farmer Helen Gatii has turned to water harvesting and mulching to ensure year-round food production despite erratic rains.

As global temperatures rise, so does health risks. Rising temperatures, more frequent and severe droughts and floods, and rapidly degrading soil health, pose a significant threat to livelihoods, human wellbeing and ecological systems, particularly in the arid regions. In arid and semi-arid areas, vulnerable groups, particularly children under five years of age, women of reproductive age, the elderly, persons with disabilities and those with mental health issues are affected.

Health experts warn the climate crisis could pave way to new diseases, potentially resulting in an estimated 24.5 million deaths by 2050. Dengue fever and malaria have spread due to changing rainfall patterns and warmer temperatures.

According to a report on deforestation, areas in western Kenya that were once malaria-free are now seeing a resurgence of the disease, with increased mosquito breeding due to loss of forest cover. Waterborne diseases are on the rise due to frequent floods. Waterborne illnesses like cholera, typhoid fever, schistosomiasis, and hepatitis A, which afflict people all over Sub-Saharan Africa, are significantly impacted by climate change. 

Climate change has a serious impact on education. In 2024, floods submerged schools. Above-average rains caused damage to school infrastructure, including the loss of textbooks, exercise books, desks, and other educational materials, and it also displacement students which left a lasting impact on learning outcomes keeping more than two million students—mostly in rural areas—out of classrooms for extended periods. This left students disadvantaged academically creating educational gap compared to the ones who were not affected .

The Kenyan government has taken significant steps to combat environmental degradation. One high-profile initiative is the National Tree Growing Day Kenya declared November 13, 2023, as National Tree Growing Day, making it the first country to establish a public holiday dedicated to tree planting. This initiative is part of a broader plan to plant 15 billion trees by 2032 and increase forest cover to 30% by 2050.

With the drastic rise of global warming, Kenya has put significant focus on the harnessing and output of renewable energy in order to fight climate change. Lake Turkana Wind Power Station, Africa's largest wind farm, contributes 310 megawatts to the national grid, which is 15-17% of Kenya's installed energy capacity. The project has significantly lowered emission of greenhouse gases, including creating jobs and helping local businesses and communities.

The Kenyan government has formulated policies and plans to counter climate change such as global warming. Some of those policies include developing agencies responsible on monitoring climate change in Kenya. With all these plans and policies, challenges lie in implementation. Limited financial resources, corruption, and bureaucratic delays have slowed the rollout of climate-smart programs. However, international funding is still required, particularly from development partners like the Green Climate Fund. 

Experts believe that Kenya should prioritize subnational government participation and local resource mobilization.

Kenyan youth are actively addressing the climate catastrophe, addressing the effects of climate change in their communities and personal lives, and pushing for answers through a variety of projects. Realizing their part in creating a more sustainable future, many are actively engaged in climate change initiatives both domestically and abroad. 

Many young Kenyans are directly impacted by the effects of climate change, including droughts, floods, and food insecurity, motivating them to take action. Young Kenyans are participating in advocacy efforts to influence policy and promote climate justice, recognizing the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities. Groups like Climate Justice Kenya are demanding policy accountability, green job creation, and a just energy transition. Climate crisis adversely affects everyone. It should be looked into by one and all to prevent the future crisis.