By Andrew Mbuva
Kenya’s 47 counties are sitting on a potential climate finance windfall, but questions over oversight and accountability are increasingly taking centre stage. The Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) programme, supported by the World Bank and international partners, has channelled Ksh 38.2 billion to grassroots climate resilience projects since 2022.
Speaking at the Senate’s Assessment and Planning Retreat, Peter Odhengo, FLLoCA Programme Coordinator at the National Treasury, briefed senators on both the programme’s successes and its challenges.
“This programme is pioneering the first national model of decentralising funds directly to counties and devolving decisions to local communities,” Odhengo said. “Counties receive grants based on performance scores. Those that meet fiduciary and institutional conditions unlock larger allocations.”
Under the programme, qualifying counties can receive up to Ksh 162 million annually through the County Climate Resilience Investment grant. So far, over 1,200 rural wards have benefited, surpassing initial targets, and the initiative has created nearly 75,000 jobs.
However, Odhengo revealed that not all counties have met the necessary requirements to access the funds. Kiambu, Nakuru, and Samburu counties have yet to satisfy the minimum conditions, a situation Odhengo called “regrettable.” He urged the counties to comply promptly, saying, “The people of those counties deserve to benefit alongside the rest of the republic.”
More serious are the cases of Kajiado and Nyamira counties, which have been suspended from the programme and had their accounts closed after auditors detected theft and misuse of funds. Investigations into both counties are ongoing.
The FLLoCA programme represents a bold step in localised climate financing, but as senators at the retreat noted, its success hinges on strict oversight. With billions of shillings at stake, the question on everyone’s mind remains: who is watching?
