In a bold and timely response to the mounting threats of climate change, the Kisumu County Government has unveiled the Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Report, a comprehensive blueprint aimed at guiding localized resilience strategies and informing policy interventions.
The high-profile launch was led by Deputy Governor Dr. Mathew Ochieng Owili, who underscored the urgency of climate action.
“For many years, our communities have endured the relentless impacts of climate change ; a pandemic in its own right ; that has caused untold suffering and havoc, particularly within domestic and informal households,” said Dr. Owili.
He emphasized that Kisumu is leading from the front through community-driven solutions, bold policy shifts, and strategic partnerships.
“We are rewriting the climate story with solutions rooted in the realities of our people,” he added.
Developed in partnership with Shack Dwellers International Kenya (SDI-Kenya) and Maseno University, the report provides a detailed framework for identifying, assessing, and mitigating climate risks in vulnerable areas. SDI-Kenya’s Executive Director, Joseph Kimani, was commended for his pivotal role in steering grassroots-led climate action.
“This collaboration is proof that when local knowledge meets policy innovation, transformation follows. We’re turning commitment into action and hope into tangible results,” Dr. Owili noted.
The event drew key leaders from across the county’s political and administrative spectrum, including County Assembly Speaker Hon. Elisha Oraro, Deputy Speaker Hon. Nerea Okombo, and several Members of the County Assembly. Also in attendance were CEC for Environment and Climate Change Judith Oluoch, alongside her counterparts Farida Salim, John Awiti, and Dr. Gregory Ganda.
The report’s launch signals a pivotal chapter in Kisumu’s climate resilience efforts, as the county asserts itself as a regional leader in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness.
