Kenyan lawmakers want the monies provided by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to be utilized locally to accelerate transformative climate action.
The co-convener of Parliamentary Caucus on Climate Change, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’ said it would be imprudent for the monies to be directed to fund the work of consultants based in foreign capitals without having an impact on local communities who are the most affected by adverse effects of climate change.
“We need Kenya’s share of the Green Climate Fund to be utilized locally so that it can create an impact on local communities,” said Kajwang.
Speaking while attending a sensitization workshop to enlighten the caucus members on climate funding and governance in Naivasha, the Members also ought to know the fate of the USD1mn from the Green Climate Fund which in 2024 was allocated to the Parliament of Kenya for capacity building on climate action.
They argued that the Fund which is administered by UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) – a partner of the GCF, through Climate Parliament, has only benefited external consultants.
GCF is the world’s largest climate fund, a multilateral financing entity operating under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its primary goal is to support developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change by providing financial support for low-emission and climate-resilient development projects in developing countries.
Developing countries like Kenya primarily receive funding from the GCF, not contribute to it as developed countries who are party to the UNFCCC are the primary source of funding for the GCF.
The MPs also advocated for their inclusion in the determination and implementation of climate change projects across the country. They pointed out that despite their crucial role in lobbying for, and approving climate action initiatives, the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLOCA) program has primarily engaged Governors and MCAs in rolling out these programs, excluding Senators and MPs.
Led by Kajwang’ and Njoro legislator Hon. Charity Kathambi, who is the co-convener of the caucus, the Members emphasized their role in ensuring the allocation of funds for these programs. They further stressed their responsibility in overseeing the program’s implementation to guarantee value for money.
“We acknowledge that FLLOCA has become one of the most visible projects in the counties. However, as MPs, we must be part of the programme to ensure there is value for money,” Sen. Kajwang’ stated.
Hon. Kathambi also underscored the role of lawmakers in championing budgetary allocation for these funds and called on FLLOCA to liaise with MPs in identifying a project in every constituency for implementation.
At the same time, the lawmakers have advocated for a stringent framework to ensure accountability in the usage of these funds.
Lawmakers Adams Kipsanai, Gideon Kimaiyu, and Bernard Kitur questioned Parliament’s role in climate governance, calling for the review of the funding model. This was after the FLLOCA program coordinator, Peter Odhengo revealed that 90% of the fund had been allocated to projects under county governments, with the remaining 10% is set aside for capacity building and national-level operations.
