Makueni County Commissioner (CC) Duncan Darusi says the government has partnered with and other stakeholders to reverse the effects of climate change through sound management of the environment
He stressed that it was paramount for all stakeholders dealing with issues of environment to come up with local solutions to address the effects of global phenomena by adapting climate resilient practices.
The administrator also noted that the negative effects on the environment has increased the statistics of poverty cases in the county that need to be tackled by the government and other stakeholders dealing with matters of the environment.
“Climate issues is not a monopoly of any institutions or of both levels of government but rather a collective responsibility of all stakeholders to manage the environment,” said Darusi while chairing the County Environment Committee (CEC) on Tuesday at Yvonne’s Cottages, Yaitha Market in Machakos.
“Climate change is a reality, its effects on quality of livelihoods are evident. We have to reverse these negative effects by finding local solutions to improve and manage our environment,” he added.
During the meeting, the CEC members adopted and validated the Makueni County Action Plan (CEAP) 2025-2029 that will be taken to the cabinet of the county government.
Darusi said that the plan will help influence policy and plans to address challenges of climate change, resource use as well identify opportunities available.
The County Commissioner said that there was a need to ensure concerted efforts by all stakeholders in implementing the CEAP in a bid to improve our degraded environment in the county.
He acknowledged the efforts made by the National Environment and Management Authority (NEMA), National Drought Management Authority, the County Government of Makueni and ICRAF on the development of CEAP 2025-2029.
Speaking at the same meeting, the Environment, Mining, Natural Resource and Climate Change Chief Officer (CO) Dr. Geoffrey Ngovi urged the members to think of activities to implement in order to bring to fruition what the plan contains.
At the same time, Dr. Ngovi said it was imperative to find local solutions to fight poverty in an effort to improve the living standards of the people in the county.
During the meeting, NEMA Director Vinicent Oloo Ochieng sensitized members on the national sand harvesting Regulations 2024.
The main objective of the regulations is to ensure sustainable utilization of sand as a resource and at the same time protect the environment. The regulation also gives directions on how to harvest sand and also requires areas harvested to be rehabilitated among other things.
By Patrick Nyakundi
