MPs push for clean cooking, climate financing to curb forest destruction
By Viola Kosome, July 9, 2026Members of Parliament have called for increased climate financing, clean cooking solutions and greater investment in renewable energy, saying the country must move beyond discussions and take concrete action to address the escalating effects of climate change.
Speaking in Kisumu during a parliamentary climate change forum, Parliamentary Caucus on Climate Change and Conservation Chairperson and Njoro MP Charity Kathambi Chepkwony said Kenya has experienced devastating impacts of climate change, including floods, prolonged droughts, food insecurity, landslides and widespread environmental degradation.
She said lawmakers from both the National Assembly and the Senate had convened to explore ways of mobilising climate finance and attracting investors to support green development projects across the country.
“We can no longer continue talking without taking action. Climate change is no longer a future problem as it is already affecting livelihoods across Kenya,” she said.
Kathambi noted that pastoralist communities in northern Kenya have suffered heavy livestock losses due to prolonged drought while other parts of the country continue to grapple with floods, shrinking forests and declining agricultural productivity.
She lauded President William Ruto’s ambitious 15 billion tree growing initiative but stressed that tree planting alone would not reverse environmental degradation unless alternative sources of clean energy are made accessible to households and institutions.
The legislator identified dependence on firewood and charcoal as one of the leading causes of deforestation, noting that more than 70 per cent of Kenyans, particularly those in rural areas, still rely on biomass for cooking.
“We must provide practical alternatives. Schools, households and institutions cannot continue depending on firewood while we expect our forests to recover,” she said.
Kathambi said parliamentarians are advocating for clean cooking technologies and solar-powered institutions, including schools, as part of efforts to reduce pressure on forests while lowering energy costs.
She revealed that discussions were underway with development partners, including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC), to support the solarisation of more than 3,000 schools across the country.
Calls for greener investments
According to the MP, replacing firewood with renewable energy in learning institutions would significantly reduce deforestation while supporting the government’s broader climate resilience agenda.
She noted that Kenya remains a continental leader in climate governance, having enacted Africa’s first Climate Change Act in 2016 before amending it in 2023 to strengthen provisions on carbon markets and climate financing.
Kathambi added that Parliament had also amended the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) law to increase funding for environmental conservation activities at the constituency level.
She, however, said climate action remains underfunded despite its growing importance, urging both government and development partners to allocate more resources towards environmental conservation and green investments.
The legislator also proposed expanding Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) projects beyond county governments to directly benefit constituencies, arguing that Members of Parliament are implementing numerous community infrastructure projects that could integrate climate-smart technologies.
“We appreciate the success of FLLoCA, but the benefits should reach all constituencies. Climate action must not be limited to only a few areas,” she said.
Kathambi challenged Kenyans to complement government efforts by planting trees, adopting proper waste management practices and embracing environmentally friendly lifestyles.
She warned that pollution, illegal logging, poor waste disposal and illegal fishing continue to threaten ecosystems and livelihoods, particularly around water bodies such as Lake Victoria.
Stronger collaboration
The MP called for stronger collaboration between government agencies, investors, communities and environmental regulators to address pollution affecting rivers, lakes and oceans.
She said protecting Lake Victoria was critical because it supports thousands of families through fishing and other economic activities, warning that unchecked pollution and illegal fishing could undermine food security and livelihoods.
Kathambi also appealed to schools to establish tree-growing programmes, including fruit tree projects that can improve nutrition, generate income and instil environmental stewardship among learners.
She urged every Kenyan to take personal responsibility for environmental conservation instead of shifting blame, saying climate change requires collective action from government, institutions and citizens alike.
“We all have a responsibility to restore our environment. The question each Kenyan should ask is,What action have I taken to protect our country?” she said.