Vihiga: Vihiga Governor Dr. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo has launched the Climate Finance Capacity Building Handbook, a practical guide aimed at empowering counties to effectively plan for and secure climate financing. The ceremony took place during a side event organised by GIZ Kenya, themed 'Financing Climate Resilience in Cities and Counties', where Dr. Ottichilo delivered a keynote address on accessing climate finance at the sub-national level.
According to Kenya News Agency, in his address, the Governor outlined best practices from Kenyan counties that have successfully attracted climate finance and championed climate justice, detailing their strategies, milestones, and achievements. Highlighting Vihiga's success story, Dr. Ottichilo noted that in a bid to strengthen resilience in the water sector, the County Government, through the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme and its own budgetary allocations, has invested over Sh300 million in more than 20 solar-powered water schemes.
The projects have enabled over 10,000 households, including vulnerable rural families, to access clean and safe water. Dr. Ottichilo emphasized the importance of prioritizing conservation of the respective catchment areas to ensure sustainability of the water supply. The Governor reaffirmed Vihiga's commitment to leveraging climate finance for community-driven projects that not only address immediate needs but also build long-term resilience against climate change impacts.