Turkana Governor Lomorukai seeks Japan intervention in climate change fight

Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai on Wednesday appealed for Japan's interventions in mitigating the effects of climate change in the region.

Speaking during a meeting with the Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Okaniwa Ken in Lodwar town, the governor expressed concern about the rising levels of water in Lake Turkana which has left families displaced.

The Governor pleaded for support towards climate resilience projects to increase communities' adaptive capacities to climate change in the county.

"We are committed to achieving self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on relief aid," he said.

He highlighted the weather fluctuations and the scarce natural resources that force the pastoralist communities to migrate in search of water and pasture.

The county boss revealed that the Asal county was in the process of implementing the Integrated Development Plan which serves as a comprehensive guide to support the operationalisation of the Turkana County Vision. He called for support to achieve the realization of the projects captured in the plan.

The Japanese government facilitated the development of a fish value chain around Lake Turkana, and the governor applauded the initiative.

Deputy Governor John Erus also called for a strategic partnership with the Japanese government and appreciated projects already supported by the Japanese government. The projects are aimed towards promoting tourism and the preservation of the cultural heritage of the local communities in Turkana County.

Ambassador Okaniwa Ken commended the county's efforts in the fight against climate change.

He assured Japan's continued support through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The Ambassador mentioned areas of collaboration with the county in Water, Agriculture and programmes in support of the refugee host community in Kakuma.

Turkana County is among the counties in the Asal regions grappling with the effects of extreme climate shocks including the vicious cycle of drought and floods.

Environment and Climate Change PS Festus Ng’eno and IRC Kenya country director Mohammed el Montassir in Nairobi. (Ministry)

Separately, Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Festus Ng'eno met a team from the International Rescue Committee Country Director Mohamed El Montassir at his office to discuss partnership programmes in aid of Asal counties.

"The main aim of the program is to increase communities' adaptive capacities to climate change through early warning systems as well as one health approach to cushion the communities against climate change-related calamities such as malnutrition," said the PS.

Ng'eno called on the IRC to leverage the Financing Locally --Led Climate Action (FLoCCA) structures to strengthen local resilience to the impacts of climate change in the Asal counties they currently operate.