Africa-Press – Kenya. Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary, Soipan Tuya on Monday, said that meteorological services in the country should be modernized.
Speaking at the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining in consideration for the 2023 Budget Policy Statement, the CS said that modernisation of the services will provide authentic weather information.
“There is a need to modernise Meteorological Services in Kenya to provide the citizens with reliable weather and climate information for early warning and decision making,” Tuya said.
The CS said to increase the tree cover from 12 per cent to 30 per cent by 2032, her ministry will undertake Ecosystem Restoration.
This, she said, includes the National Tree Growing and Restoration Campaign of 15 billion trees across the country.
She said the deliverables for the ministry include Climate Change Response (adaptation and mitigation), sustainable waste management and driving the country to a circular economy, supporting livelihoods and job creation, and modernising Meteorological services.
“The ministry is aware of the economic challenges facing the country and huge expectations and deliverables due for the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry to fulfil its core mandate,” Tuya said.
According to the CS, in 2023/24, the ministry was allocated a development budget of Sh4.988 billion against a budget requirement of Sh13.269 billion which represents 40 per cent of the total requirement.
“During the participatory process of the Sector Working Group, the ministry was allocated Sh11.505 billion in the 2023/24 Financial Year, for recurrent budget, against a budget requirement of Sh19.066 billion which represents 60 per cent of the total requirement,” she said.
The CS also said that legislators will be involved to assist in the unlocking of funds from development partners.
“We will involve the legislators to push for policies and regulations in the environment space including EMCA, Forestry regulations and policy and the Carbon Markets Framework to help us unlock funding from development partners,” Tuya said.
The meeting was chaired by Nakuru Town West MP David Gikaria and deputised by Baringo South MP Charles Kamuren.
Gikaria urged MPs to dedicate 2 per cent of their CDF to planting and growing trees.
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