Dear Government of Kenya Integrate Science-Based Solutions with Prayers to Combat Drought.

Kenya is one of the African nations severely affected by climate-induced droughts, which have led to catastrophic food shortages and hunger. The COVID-19 pandemic, debt difficulties, political tensions, and political rivalries have compounded the situation, making it harder for the government to deal appropriately with the issues. According to the Kenya Climate Change Working Group, the country's average temperature has increased by 0.3°C per decade since 1960. This has led to unpredictable and uneven rainfall patterns, which have resulted in prolonged droughts and occasional flooding, devastating agriculture, water availability, and food security. The melting of snow on Mt. Kenya, which has resulted from climate change, has also affected the water supply for millions of people living in the region.

These climate change trends have had a significant impact on Kenya, particularly through severe drought episodes. For example, in 2017, Kenya experienced one of the worst droughts in decades, which affected more than 3 million people and led to the loss of livestock, crops, and water scarcity. According to the UN, more than 357,000 children were affected by the drought, with many suffering from malnutrition and in need of humanitarian assistance. In 2021, Kenya was hit by another severe drought, which has resulted in food and water scarcity and displacement of communities and the number of people to be affected by droughts is projected to hit 6 million by November 2023.

To combat droughts and food shortages caused by climate change, the Kenyan government must invest in various strategies that increase climate change resilience. Diversifying food production is a crucial move that the government may make. Kenya's dependence on rain-fed agriculture renders it susceptible to droughts. The government can invest less dependent on rainfall forms of agriculture, such as irrigated farming, hydroponics, and greenhouse farming. Diversifying food output will contribute to the nation's food security, even during droughts.

Kenya can leverage the building of dams to mitigate the impact of droughts. To do so effectively, the country needs to prioritize dam construction in areas most affected by droughts, implement effective water management practices, ensure the sustainability of dam construction, and promote public-private partnerships to finance and implement dam construction projects. By doing this, Kenya can improve water security, reduce the impact of droughts on communities and agriculture, and build resilience to the effects of climate change.

Concurrently, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) in Kenya can play a critical role in building climate resilience and early warning systems to droughts. The NDMA can work with meteorological agencies to develop early warning systems that provide accurate and timely information on weather patterns and droughts. This information can be used to inform disaster preparedness and response plans and ensure that communities are better prepared for droughts. Additionally, the NDMA can work with communities to develop resilience-building strategies such as drought-resistant crops and water conservation techniques. By promoting sustainable and climate-resilient livelihoods, the NDMA can help to reduce the impact of droughts on vulnerable communities.

Moreover, increasing renewable energy is an integral approach. Kenya has made substantial strides in expanding access to electricity from renewable energy sources such as geothermal, wind, and solar. However, to ensure that most of the population has access to reliable and affordable electricity, more work remains to be done. The government should prioritise investments in renewable energy to lessen dependency on climate-altering fossil fuels. In partnership with the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation and other stakeholders, the Ministry of Energy can lead in promoting renewable energy.

Furthermore, sustainable land use practises are essential for mitigating climate-induced droughts and food shortages. Conservation agriculture, agroforestry, and land restoration can reduce soil erosion, boost soil fertility, and strengthen agricultural production systems' resilience. Therefore, the government should incentivise farmers to adopt these methods and support their implementation with extension services. By providing extension services, input subsidies, and training on sustainable land management practices, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries can play a crucial role in encouraging sustainable agriculture and livestock production.

Social safety nets, such as the Hunger Safety Net Program, have been established to mitigate the impact of droughts on food security. However, these programmes provide only temporary assistance. The government must bolster social safety nets by increasing cash transfers and assisting needy households with income-generating activities. To strengthen social safety nets, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection can lead the development and implementation of cash transfer programmes and other social protection schemes in partnership with the National Secretariat for Social Protection and other stakeholders. The Ministry of Health can also improve nutrition by encouraging nutrition education and awareness and executing interventions such as distributing dietary supplements and fortified foods.

Institutional capacity must be strengthened to respond effectively to droughts and food insecurity caused by climate change. The government should invest in the research and development of climate-resilient technology and the capacity-building of organisations responsible for water management, agriculture, and disaster response. This will necessitate a substantial investment and political commitment, but the advantages will be better food security and decreased vulnerability to climate-induced droughts. To build institutional capacity, the government can establish a National Climate Change Secretariat or other coordinating entity to oversee the execution of climate change policies and encourage collaboration between various government agencies and stakeholders.

Northern Kenya's Turkana County has been severely impacted by climate-induced droughts, and water scarcity is a severe issue. The government can invest in desalination equipment to convert Lake Turkana's salty water into drinkable water. Desalination technology has been adopted effectively in other arid regions of the world, such as the Middle East, and can be a viable solution for locations with limited water resources. In partnership with the Water Services Trust Fund and the Lake Turkana Water Services Board, for instance, the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation can lead efforts to develop desalination technology in Turkana. In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry can collaborate with the Kenya Forest Service, the National Environment Management Authority, and local people to restore Mau Forests.

Reforestation of the Mau Forests is an additional essential measure for mitigating climate-induced droughts and food shortages. The Mau Forests are a vital water catchment area but have been severely degraded by illegal logging and charcoal burning. By applying sustainable forestry practises, such as agroforestry, and giving incentives for local populations to join in reforestation initiatives, the government may invest in recovering the Mau Forests. By rehabilitating the Mau Forests, the government can increase the water supply for agricultural output and decrease its susceptibility to drought.

By integrating these institutions and ministries, the Kenyan government will be able to develop a comprehensive and coordinated strategy for mitigating the effects of climate-induced droughts and food shortages. Through the proper execution of these efforts, the government may foster climate change resistance, increase food security, and secure its residents a sustainable future.

The Kenyan government must engage in a variety of initiatives to mitigate climate-induced food shortages and droughts. Diversifying food production, encouraging renewable energy, promoting sustainable land use practises, bolstering social safety nets, and enhancing institutional capacity are all essential activities that the government should explore to create resilience to climate change.

These steps will necessitate substantial investment and political commitment, but the results will be enhanced food security and less susceptibility to climate-induced droughts. In addition to the actions outlined above, the Kenyan government can further implement desalination in Turkana and reforestation in the Mau Forests to minimise vulnerability to climate-induced droughts and food distress.