Soipan Tuya, the CS of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry held a meeting with development partners on Monday to discuss the priorities of her ministry.
These priorities were in alignment with the Kenya Kwanza administration’s natural resources sector plan. In the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary highlighted the focus areas include environment, climate change and forestry governance, conservation and management of environmental and forestry ecosystems, as well as climate change adaptation and mitigation.
The Ministry of Environment emphasised agroforestry and commercial forestry management, resource mobilisation and partnerships as crucial sectors of their draft of 2023 to 2027 strategic plan. Seeking input from stakeholders, CS Soipan stated.
“As a ministry, we are now very clear of our implementation trajectory. On Wednesday, May 24, we will be validating our strategic plan for the period 2023 to 2027.” Soipan said.
“Moreover, it will also help Kenya to meet some of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030 while at the same time enabling us to fulfill our international obligations on environment and climate change,” the CS said.
Before finalising the strategic plan, CS Soipan mentioned ongoing initiatives within the Ministry’s focus areas. The initiatives include review of the Environment Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) and the Forest Policy, with proposed changes that will support the operations of institutions such as the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and KEFRI.
“We have another thirteen (13) regulations in the environment, climate change and forestry sector that are before the Parliamentary Committee on Delegated Legislation, we are engaging the committee before we gazette them,” CS Soipan said.
Additionally, amendments to the 2016 Climate Change Act are being pursued to incorporate reforms such as mainstreaming carbon trading. The proposed amendments will undergo virtual public participation this week before due legislative processes.
On sustainable waste management, CS Soipan mentioned that a prototype bill has been developed and will be discussed with various counties. Enactment of the County laws will ease the full implementation of the 2022 Sustainable Waste Management Act, aimed at promoting the circular economy in the country.
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CS Soipan emphasized the importance of ecosystem restoration, particularly through the 15 billion tree growing and restoration program.
This flagship project under the Kenya Kwanza administration aims to increase Kenya’s tree cover from the current 12.3 percent to 30 percent by 2032. Furthermore, the Ministry has developed a Wetlands Restoration Strategy, targeting the restoration of 5,300 wetlands across the country.
CS Tuya also mentioned that Kenya will co-host the Heads of State and Government meeting during the Africa Climate Summit, alongside the annual Africa Climate Week at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi from September 4th to 6th.
She expressed gratitude to various development partners for their support and urged other partners to contribute financially to different aspects of the summit.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Eng Festus Ng’eno (Environment and Climate Change), Forestry counterpart Gitonga Mugambi, and the President’s Climate Change Envoy, Amb Ali Mohamed.
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