The government has launched a nationwide training programme for Chiefs, aimed at strengthening climate security and resilience at the grassroots level, in what is being hailed as a landmark shift in Kenya’s approach to environmental governance and internal stability.
The initiative, dubbed the National Climate Change Security Resilience Programme (NCCSRP), was officially unveiled on Monday at the IGAD Centre for Climate Prediction and Applications (ICPAC) in Nairobi.
More than 4,000 Chiefs from across the country are set to benefit from the training, which will equip them with skills to manage local climate risks, lead community-based climate action, and foster peace in vulnerable areas.
“This is no longer just an environmental concern. It is a matter of national security,” said Dr. Raymond Omollo, Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, who presided over the event. “Chiefs are uniquely positioned to act as trusted conveners – and now, climate champions – at the community level.”
In line with the government’s integrated strategy on climate resilience, the training extends beyond local administrators to include officers from the National Police Service, Kenya Prisons Service, and the Immigration Department.
Since its national rollout in May 2024, NCCSRP has mobilized over 13,000 citizens through more than 1,600 community groups spearheaded by Chiefs.
A key feature of the programme is the Chiefs Climate Action Day, held every first Friday of the month. Each event sees an average of 250 trees planted per site, contributing directly to President William Ruto’s ambitious target of planting 15 billion trees by 2032.
“As we plant trees, we are not just restoring landscapes — we are planting peace, stability, and hope,” said Dr. Omollo, urging Chiefs to embrace digital tools and local innovation in scaling up climate response.
The training is supported by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), whose climate experts will guide risk analysis and resilience planning. The launch was attended by key IGAD officials, including Dr. Elizabeth Carabine, Climate Security Advisor to the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, and Mr. Abdikarim Mohammed, Coordinator of IGAD’s Climate Security Mechanism.
“Kenya’s approach offers a replicable blueprint. Member states in this region are setting a global standard for linking climate and peace,” Dr. Carabine noted.
The urgency of the programme comes amid intensifying climate-related disasters. Last year’s floods claimed over 40 lives and displaced more than 3,000 people, highlighting the need for proactive, coordinated responses.
Dr. Omollo also cited the Nairobi River Restoration Programme, now being expanded nationwide, as an example of ongoing resilience-building initiatives.
“You are not here just for your locations — you represent the administrative fabric of this nation,” Dr. Omollo told the Chiefs, calling for unity in confronting climate threats that risk undermining social cohesion and national security.
