EU Calls on Kenya to Prioritize Innovation Amid Escalating Climate Crises
The European Union has called on Kenya to prioritize innovation and adaptive strategies as the country grapples with increasingly severe climate disasters, including more frequent and intense droughts and floods.
EU Ambassador Henritte Geiger made the appeal during an evening event marking 50 years of Kenya-EU relations. She highlighted how traditional climate patterns have shifted dramatically. The cycle of droughts and floods now occurs much faster, leaving communities with little time to recover before the next disaster strikes. This situation is particularly unsustainable in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), where recovery becomes nearly impossible.
"The drought has always been here, but now the circle is getting faster and faster. And when there is no drought, there is a flood. So you can hardly recover from a disaster; the next one is in the making. This is not sustainable, and we have to come to a situation where Africa can cope. For example, in ASAL areas we are working to try and adopt livelihoods by looking at plants that are resisting, by an alternative lifestyle that can be in addition to livestock, because one thing is clear, it will not go the way it was," Geiger stated.
The ambassador stressed the importance of deliberate partnerships and compensation for African nations, which contribute minimally to global climate change yet bear a disproportionate burden from its effects. She reaffirmed the EU's ongoing commitment to supporting Kenya and the broader continent in building resilience.
The EU has demonstrated this support through substantial investments in climate action. In 2023, it allocated €13 million (approximately Sh1.69 billion) to the four-year Dryland Climate Action for Community Drought Resilience project. This initiative focuses on strengthening communities in ASAL regions against drought and other climate-related shocks.
Kenya is currently facing a severe drought triggered by poor short rains from October to December 2025. According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), more than two million people are affected, with impacts extending across more than 20 counties, especially in ASAL areas but increasingly felt nationwide.
The situation varies by region. Mandera stands as the worst-affected county and requires urgent humanitarian intervention. Nine counties, including Wajir, Kitui, Garissa, Marsabit, Kwale, Kajiado, Tana River, Kilifi, and Isiolo, are in the alert phase and need close monitoring. Another 13 counties, such as Samburu, Turkana, Taita Taveta, Nyeri, Laikipia, Narok, West Pokot, Tharaka Nithi, and Embu, remain in the normal phase but show worsening trends, with significant strain on water resources and livestock sectors.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki addressed the crisis while co-chairing the 14th Development Partners Forum. He announced that the government has released Sh6 billion in the past month to cushion affected populations and will now disburse Sh4 billion monthly to sustain mitigation efforts, including food distribution to families and protection of livestock.
Kindiki urged the public to remain calm, assuring that arrangements are in place to lessen the drought's impact. "There should be no panic in the country. The government is doing everything possible to lessen the impact of the drought," he said.
He acknowledged a persistent funding gap of Sh2 billion per month and called on development partners to assist in bridging it as the government scales up its response.
The remarks underscore the urgent need for innovative solutions, such as drought-resistant crops, diversified livelihoods beyond traditional livestock keeping, and stronger international collaboration to address the escalating climate challenges facing Kenya.