Transcript Local_Government_Ada..

CASE OF KENYA
Presented by Apiyo Okwiri – MasterCoDe 2007/2008
 Area of 592000 km2
 Lies approximately between latitudes 5° north and 5° south
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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.
 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.
 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 ….”
 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 socioeconomic 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.
MAU FOREST
NAIROBI RIVER
 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.
 At 400,000 hectares, the Mau Forest Complex forms the largest
forest block in the country, and the largest single block of closedcanopy forest in East Africa.
 Forests that constitute the complex include Transmara, Ol
Posimoru, 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, Maji Mazuri,
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, Ewaso
Ngiro, Njoro, Nderit, Makalia, and Naishi. These rivers in turn
feed major lakes, including Natron, Victoria, Turkana, Baringo
and Nakuru.
Forest Cover loss inside and outside Mau
Forest Cover loss [Ha]
Outside boundaries
(yearly average)
Inside boundaries
(yearly average)
1973 - 1986 - 1995 - 2000 - 2003 1986 1995 2000 2003 2005
14805
3292
8044
1684
3925
1139
366
1609
561
1963
462
98
1344
2800
3510
36
11
269
933
1955
 Nairobi’s name comes from the Maasai phrase “enkare nairobi”
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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.
 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.
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.
 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.
 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).
 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.
 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.
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.
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
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 – Raila Odinga 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
Your comments please
THANK YOU!