Kenya is currently experiencing heavy rains in many parts of the country, which have brought untold sufferings and death of over 228 persons according to Government sources. This has made schools reopening to be postponed for a second time because the critical infrastructure for mobility of people, goods and services has been severely damaged or affected by the rains. Once the rains subside, the public sector will have to spend considerable funds to restore these services, despite our limited financial resources at a time like now. Climate experts have pointed out that we are in the era of global climatic changes and what is being witnessed now may continue for a long time to come. There is therefore the need to prepare, mitigate and address issues of climate change and global warming since it is a phenomenon that will be with mankind for some foreseeable future. In Kenya, H.E The President created the State Department for Environment and Climate Change, and it is expected that counties will create similar policy and institutional structures to combat climate change and global warming. This is because all climate change impacts are felt in counties first before cumulatively being felt in the nation.
Going forward, our infrastructure developments must bear the imprint of climate change adaptation and coping mechanisms. We must have roads and other infrastructure which are done in a way that in case of flooding and other adverse weather occurrences, mobility of people, goods and services resumes immediately or continues unhindered so that we minimize loss of lives and damage to property. Design, finance and construction of infrastructure and other assets should be done through multidisciplinary teams, who should be guided by the need for climate proofed infrastructure and assets, so that they are useful in good and bad weather. They should provide for adequate drainage, slope stabilization works, ring-fencing houses from strong winds and floods. Climate change proofing makes it possible for infrastructure to withstand extreme weather so that in cases of such occurrences, they do not affect our livelihoods, tourism and core critical services which keep the nation moving forward. This is what sustainable development is all about – integrating all key components in the development of a country.
On the other hand, climate change threatens national security in a number of ways: existentially – through rising sea levels and extreme weather events like flooding; jeopardizing states’ military capability and capacity for defence, which can be exacerbated by migration/refugee flows and resource scarcities – which themselves may be a threat; and through unpredictable climate change-induced violence and conflicts. Dr Giti is an urban management, public – private partnerships (PPP) and environment specialist. mutegigiti@gmail.com , @danielgiti
Dr. Daniel Mutegi Giti 