President William Ruto has emphasized the urgent need for climate resilience during the launch of the ClimateWorx Program in Nairobi.
Speaking at the event, the President underscored the severe impacts of climate change on Kenya, highlighting the extreme weather events that have devastated the country in recent years, including prolonged droughts followed by destructive floods.
“It is a great honor to join you here today as we embark on an ambitious and transformative program,” President Ruto remarked, stressing the significance of collective action to combat climate change.
“The memories of the longest and harshest droughts on record, followed by devastating floods, remain fresh in our minds.”
The President described Kenya as being at the “epicenter” of the global climate crisis, worsened by limited resources and widespread poverty.
He emphasized the pressing need for solutions to address pollution, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, all of which have disproportionately impacted vulnerable communities.
President Ruto lamented the environmental degradation that has led to declining health and living conditions for many urban communities.
“This river, which is clean and fresh at its source, is now polluted, darkened, and foul-smelling, poisoned with industrial effluent, untreated sewage, and plastic waste,” he said.
The ClimateWorx Program, which aims to enhance Kenya’s climate resilience through sustainable development and environmental restoration, was lauded as a timely intervention to address these growing challenges.
President Ruto reaffirmed his government’s commitment to tackling the climate crisis, calling for stronger partnerships and innovative solutions to protect the environment and improve the quality of life for all Kenyans.