Kenya has launched a $263.8 million climate resilience programme aimed at strengthening agriculture, restoring ecosystems and improving water management across 10 counties in the western part of the country.
The Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme (INReMP), launched on 17 July, is designed to support vulnerable rural communities by promoting sustainable farming practices, protecting natural resources and improving food security. The initiative is backed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and is expected to benefit more than two million people from over 407,000 rural households.
The programme will focus on sustainable land management, ecosystem restoration and improved conservation of water resources to raise agricultural productivity and help farmers adapt to changing climate conditions. It will be implemented in Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori counties.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the investment will help increase agricultural output, improve household incomes, create employment opportunities and strengthen community resilience, positioning the programme as part of broader national efforts to build a more secure, climate-adapted food system.
Kenya continues to face escalating climate-related challenges, including prolonged droughts, extreme rainfall, floods and landslides, events that have disrupted agricultural production, damaged infrastructure and increased pressure on rural communities. Floods between March and May 2024 affected hundreds of thousands of people, causing significant loss of life and economic damage, underscoring the urgency behind stronger adaptation measures.
In response, the government has introduced tools such as the Anticipatory Action Roadmap for 2024-2029 and deepened cooperation with regional climate organisations to strengthen early warning systems and disaster response. Kenya has also set a target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent by 2035 compared to a business-as-usual scenario, a goal intended to balance emissions reduction with continued economic growth.
The new programme is expected to play a central role in protecting rural livelihoods, improving agricultural productivity, and helping vulnerable communities across western Kenya adapt to the intensifying impacts of climate change.
Source: https://econews.co.ke/
