CASE OF KENYA Presented by Apiyo Okwiri – MasterCoDe 2007/2008

1. CASE OF KENYA Presented by Apiyo Okwiri – MasterCoDe 2007/2008

2. Area of 592000 km2 • Lies approximately between latitudes 5° north and 5° south and between longitudes 34° and 42° east on the eastern coast of Africa. • The equator bisects the country into almost two equal parts. • The altitude varies widely from sea level to about 5000 meters above sea level on the central highlands. • Lakes occupy about 2% of total area • 18% is occupied by agriculturally high potential areas, • Arid and semi-arid lands occupy the rest of the country.

3. Cont’d • The country’s climate is influenced mainly by its position relative to the equator, its nearness the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria, and varied topography. • The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is also a major synoptic feature which also influences the climate over the country. • The influence of the ITCZ is modified by the altitudinal differences, giving rise to varied climatic regimes. • Annual rainfall in Kenya follows a strong bimodal seasonal pattern. Generally, the long rains occur in March to May, while the short rains occur in October to December.

4. Kenya ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 30th August 1994 thereby signifying her determination to join the international community in combating the problem of climate change. The ultimate objective of the Convention is ….”Stabilization of the greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system ….”

5. Cont’d • Kenya has issues falling mainly in Semi-Tropical Areas, Tropical Areas, and Arid Lands. The climate change issues are further interpreted in the context of socio-economic issues such as:- • Poverty alleviation. • Enhanced economic growth. • Improved equity. • It can therefore, be summarized that socio-economic objectives and vulnerability to climate change are driving issues for Kenya.

6. MAU FOREST NAIROBI RIVER

7. Mau Forest

8. The Kenya Indigenous Forest Conservation Programme (KIFCON) of 1991-1994 estimated Kenya’s closed canopy forests to cover 1.24 million hectares, or roughly two percent of the country. Recent estimates based on remote sensing indicate that against a global forest cover average of 21.43 percent, and an average for Africa of 9.25 percent, Kenya’s closed canopy forest cover stands at a critical 1.7 percent (UNEP, 2001). • The loss of forest cover has been caused by a number of factors: degradation, settlement (both legal and illegal), urbanization, unsustainable extraction of timber and forest products, lack of land use policy, and corruption, among others.

9. Mau Forest • At 400,000 hectares, the Mau Forest Complex forms the largest forest block in the country, and the largest single block of closed-canopy forest in East Africa. • Forests that constitute the complex include Transmara, OlPosimoru, Maasai Mau, Eastern Mau, Mau Narok, South West Mau, Western Mau, Mt. Londiani, Eburru, Molo and South Molo. The northern part comprises Tinderet, Northern Tinderet, Timboroa, Nabkoi, Kilombe Hill, Metkei, MajiMazuri, Chemorogok and Lembus forests. • The Mau Forest Complex is one of the five water towers in Kenya, providing the upper catchments of many major rivers, including Nzoia, Yala, Nyando, Sondu, Mara, Kerio, Molo, EwasoNgiro, Njoro, Nderit, Makalia, and Naishi. These rivers in turn feed major lakes, including Natron, Victoria, Turkana, Baringo and Nakuru.

10. Mau Forest

11. Mau Forest

13. Mau Forest

15. Mau forest encroachment scenes

18. Nairobi’s name comes from the Maasai phrase “enkarenairobi” which means “a place of cool waters”. • Area of about 700 km2 at the south-eastern end of Kenya’s agricultural heartland. • 1 600 to 1 850 m above sea level, enjoys tolerable temperatures year round (CBS 2001, Mitullah 2003). • Nairobi, Ngong, and Mathare rivers traverse numerous neighbourhoods and the indigenous Karura forest still spreads over parts of northern Nairobi. • Ngong hills are close by in the west, Mount Kenya rises further away in the north, and Mount Kilimanjaro emerges from the plains in Tanzania to the south-east. • Minor earthquakes and tremors occasionally shake the city since Nairobi sits next to the Rift Valley, which is still being created as tectonic plates move apart.

19. Cont’d

26. The anticipated impacts of human-induced climate change will affect people differently, depending on their livelihood strategies and asset base. • Poor countries and particularly the poorest people within them are critically vulnerable to shocks that disrupt their lives and livelihoods. Their poverty increases their vulnerability and it limits their ability to cope with and recover from the shocks (DFID, 2004). • Kenya’s poverty, weak institutional capacity, lack of skills on climate change adaptability and inadequate skills in disaster management, lack of equipment for disaster management, limited financial resources and dependence on exploitation of her natural resources is extremely vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

27. Land use and GHG emissions • Land use is changing rapidly due to high population growth and economic expansion. Leading to encroachment on forests and savannah land for agricultural and pastoral farming, woodfuel and timber for construction. Energy systems and GHG emissions • Economy depends on woodfuel, fossil fuel, electricity, ethanol, coal, wind and solar energy.

28. Agriculture is important for subsistence, domestic income generation, export earnings and employment creation. Agricultural performance fluctuates with changes in weather conditions. Long-term droughts and heavy rains reduce Kenya’s agricultural sector performance, resulting in higher food prices, lower domestic revenues and lower export earnings.

29. Climate change has already had a direct impact on people’s health in Kenya. • Water crisis is prevalent during droughts. Changes in temperature and precipitation support spread of malaria. Malaria, which was initially a problem of the lowlands, is now experienced in the highland regions where it is even more dangerous. Projections indicate that climate change and small changes in temperature and precipitation will boost the population of disease-carrying mosquitoes and result in increased malaria epidemics (Lindsay and Martens, 1998). Increased flooding could facilitate the breeding of the malaria carriers in formerly arid areas (Warsame et al, 1995).

30. Kenya derives considerable economic benefits from water resources in the form of fishing, water supply, transport, hydro-energy and tourism. However, the distribution of water bodies is not even such that large parts of Kenya are partly semi-arid and face severe water crisis especially during drought periods. The increasingly frequent periods of drought have had an adverse effect on both the quality and quantity of water resources.

31. Energy sector in Kenya is typified by a heavy dependence on biomass resources. Thus, forest industry has undergone changes attributed to population pressure. Most biodiversity can be found in natural forests although a considerable amount is found in open waters, wetlands, and dry/moist savannahs, which are all threatened.

32. Water resources • Several mechanisms are currently being put in place to manage Kenya’s water resources in the face of climate variability and change. These include construction of large dams to provide sufficient water for irrigation and urban consumption, formulation of good policy instruments such as development of regional institutions to manage shared water basins, and appropriate pricing mechanisms and reduction in water services losses to effectively manage water demand, particularly in the urban centres. Managers of the Seven Forks Dam on the Tana River currently use climate information to make decisions on water allocation.

33. Health •  Malaria is the main disease associated with climate change in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa. The country is currently implementing the “Roll Back Malaria” programme through the use of insecticide treated mosquito nets. Preliminary assessment of this programme is shown to significantly reduce malaria incidence in the country

34. Forestry • In forestry sector, an elaborate forestry Action Plan should be developed and observed to take care of a forestation, reforestation, conservation and protection of the existing forest resources. • The Prime Minister – RailaOdinga is leading a fight to restore the Mau Forest and stopping the excisions. • The Nairobi council has the Environment department that liaises with NEMA, UNEP and other environmental bodies in it’s projects to ensure sustainable development

35. Your comments please • THANK YOU!