Uasin Gishu county governor Jonathan Chelilim has vowed to mitigate the effects of climate change through increased access to water and sanitation, increased forest cover and diversified and improved water and waste management.
Speaking during his inaugural speech, Chelilim hinted that his administration will focus on rehabilitating the existing dams and boreholes to make them functional in order to provide water to the nearby communities and also linking the Uasin Gishu Rural Water and Sanitation Company to Eldoret Water and Sanitation Company (ELDOWAS) for distribution and management of water provision.
“Our long-term plan is to ensure 60 per cent of the residents have access to clean water by 2024, we will audit the existing boreholes to bring them to functionality and distribute clean water to families, institutions and ensure all Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) schools and health centres have access to clean and save water,” said Chelilim.
He noted that his administration will diversify energy sources to renewable ones to reduce over-reliance on firewood and charcoal in order to promote environmental conservation.
His move comes at a time when the whole world is struggling to cope up with the impacts of climate change.