Scottish Gov't pledges Ksh.48M to support ASAL communities facing climate challenges

The Scottish government has committed Ksh.48 million to aid communities in Kenya's Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) regions affected by climate-induced challenges.

Announced during COP28 in Dubai by the Scottish government, the three-month grant, starting January 2024, strives to enhance the resilience of affected communities.

The grant aims to reach 4,000 households and will be executed in collaboration with the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Humanitarian Network (AHN), a local partner outfit.

Additionally, the funding will focus on rehabilitating critical water systems in Isiolo and Samburu counties that were damaged by overuse during drought periods or conflicts.

“For years, communities across Kenya have been pushed to the brink by a climate crisis they did little to cause, facing prolonged, deadly, climate-induced drought and flash floods. The Scottish government's funding for Kenya, and other countries facing the irreversible impacts of climate change, is welcome recognition of this injustice,” said Oxfam International Interim Country Director Sebastian Tiah,

The grant will further address economic losses and damages to households through community-managed group cash transfers.

“We are glad this funding has come at a time when coping capability of communities in the Kenyan ASAL regions have been stretched beyond limit because of the cyclic shocks caused by climate change, it is a grant in the nick of time,” said ANH convener Ahmed Ibrahim.

“We hope that more countries will heed our appeal for loss and damage funding and commit more resources to supporting climate-impacted communities whose numbers keep growing in the face of myriad challenges resulting from climate extremes of both flood and drought.”

This comes against the backdrop of Kenya grappling with floods induced by the El Niño phenomenon, resulting in a wetter-than-average rainy season.

The government on Tuesday noted that the death toll from the El Nino floods has risen to 160, with an additional 529,120 people from 105,824 households so far displaced.