In a notable change of guard at the Kenyan Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, outgoing Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Bare Duale handed over the reins to Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa following a late March cabinet reshuffle.
Duale, now reassigned to the Ministry of Health, leaves behind a legacy of impactful climate initiatives. In her speech, Dr. Deborah said that over 70% of Kenya’s land is arid or semi-arid, making conservation, restoration, and preservation urgent.
“A healthy environment is a bedrock for the growth of the country. Learning from best practices in Seychelles, we will endeavor to plant 30% fruit trees as a way of dealing with malnutrition as we also conserve and restore even our degraded lands,” said Dr. Barasa.
She emphasized that as she steers the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, her core principles will be urgency, inclusion, and adoption of innovation to address challenges faced with a rallying call of “Let’s make Kenya Green.”
According to H.E. Duale, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change is the most essential ministry in the modern developed and developing world. He points out that in his eight-month tenure, together with his team, they have managed to make immense strides.
The outgoing CS says it’s an honor to have headed the essential ministry that allowed him to steer the ratification and domestication of four Multi-Lateral Environment Agreements (MEAs). In addition which the ministry is in the process of developing Kenya’s 2nd Nationally Determined Contribution for implementation between 2031 – 2035. The Draft NDC is ready for tabling before the Cabinet for approval and submission to UNFCCC by 30th April 2024
The MEAs include: the Minamata Convention on Mercury; the Kigali Amendment; the Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Importation into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Waste within Africa; and the Nairobi Convention.
Duale reveals that in March, the Ministry launched the 2024 State of Climate Report and Kenya’s National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS), which calls for urgent action to address the growing risks of climate change and build resilience against future climate shocks.
One of the major achievements is the growing of 777,320,696 tree seedlings countrywide, among which 645,068,993 seedlings have been recorded digitally through the JAZA MITI App, while 132,251,703 have been manually verified.
This feeds into the 15-billion-tree Growing Initiative by the President that is to be reached by 2032. The push is a move to ensure that Kenya increases its tree cover from 12.8% to 30% by 2030.
The process has taken a collective approach, with government institutions taking part too by planting 529,019,254 seedlings, while non-state actors, including civil society, the private sector, development partners, and community groups, planted 248,301,442 seedlings.
To make the most of the restoration actions while dealing with deforestation, the Ministry relied on the Paris Agreement, the Climate Change Act 2016, and the Carbon Markets Regulations 2024.
He shares insights on some of the hurdles faced while coming up with the Carbon Markets Regulations, 2024, a regulation that provides a clear legal framework for the implementation of carbon projects.
The former CS Environment reveals that they have facilitated the publication and approval of six regulations under EMCA, namely the Water Quality, Waste Management, Sand Harvesting, Air Quality, and Management and Control of Plastic Packaging Materials regulations.
The Ministry, in this timeframe, also rolled out the Management of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Materials Regulations, and one regulation under the Sustainable Waste Management Act, the Extended Producer Responsibility Regulations, that were pending since the enactment of the EMCA Act in 2009 (amended in 2015).
He emphasizes that these regulations, once operational, will support a self-reliant National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) as they bring in additional revenue.
“The seven regulations that are now operational are anticipated to generate additional revenue in A-I-A of up to KES 16 billion annually at the beginning and up to KES 50 billion when all the regulations are fully operationalized,” said CS Duale.
Echoing our President William Ruto’s role as the Chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), he said Kenya has been on the frontline of climate actions and should continue steering.
“Our President is also the designated champion for the Early Warnings for All in Africa initiative, which, developed in collaboration with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and other partners, aims to strengthen early warning systems across the continent,” said CS Duale.
Some Key Achievements in the Ministry of Environment Under CS Duale
The nationwide ban on asbestos for public health purposes, considering its life-harming effects with the presence of carcinogenic elements in it. After Cabinet approval, NEMA is set to coordinate the removal of asbestos from all public and private facilities to mitigate health risks from exposure.
Establishment of two Model Waste Demonstration Centers in Kwale and Kiambu Counties, coupled with 700 enforcement actions on the ban of plastic carrier bags countrywide.
To ensure sustainable waste management, the Ministry has enhanced tracking and proper waste disposal, licensed waste transporters to track waste movement, and coordinated the establishment of six Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in Tharaka Nithi, Kiambu (Takataka, Whitmud, Junky Bins), Taita-Taveta, and Kisumu Counties.
The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) has installed a Tide Gauge System at Mombasa Port for the Tsunami Early Warning System, modernized 85% of the National Weather Network for efficient meteorological services, and developed 21% capacity on advertent weather modification.
There have also been installed three Automatic Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) and 120 automatic weather stations. The transition to becoming a State Corporation is under way.
In advancing national climate action, the Ministry implemented the 3rd National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP III) and sensitized stakeholders, including civil society, counties, and MDAs, on mitigation and adaptation priorities for mainstreaming into their functions and plans.
There has been successful gazettement of the Multi-Sectoral Technical Committee (MSTC) for Carbon Markets projects in line with the Carbon Markets Regulations, 2024. These committee members will be responsible for providing advice to the Designated National Authority (DNA) on carbon projects.
