President William Ruto has appointed Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru to the newly created National Climate Change Council as campaigns are upscaled to address global climate challenges.

The National Climate Council is expected to leverage the country’s resources and expertise to support the whole-of-government approach to addressing the ongoing climate crisis.

Waiguru, who also chairs the Council of Governors, has been spearheading campaigns for Kenya to adopt interventions to mitigate effects of climate change due to a severe drought.

Kenya has in the last year been experiencing its worst ever climate related crisis, which has adversely affected her food security and left tens of millions of Kenyans facing starvation.

The council has been tasked with providing an overarching national climate change coordination mechanism for the country and will be chaired by President Ruto himself.

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Other council members include Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Cabinet Secretaries for Environment and Climate Change Affairs, National Treasury and Energy as well as others to be picked from various government agencies and county governments.

State House Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei made the announcement of the appointments to the council through a letter dated December 8, 2022.

The council together with the Climate Change Directorate was created through Climate Change Act, which came into operation on May 27, 2016.


“Pursuant to section 7 (1) of the Act, I am pleased to convey to you, your appointment by His Excellency the President, as a member of the National Climate Change Council,” the letter reads.

“The issue of climate change is a matter of concern for Kenya because despite contributing the least to global emissions, it has suffered the ravages of floods, landslides, droughts and other natural calamities. Droughts have continuously threatened food security, through crop failure, loss of livestock and people as well,” said Waiguru.

The Kirinyaga governor noted that that lack of adequate funding has been a major hindrance to implementation of climate change interventions by the county governments.


The new council has been tasked to approve the revised and updated National Climate Change Action Plan, advise governments on policies and laws necessary for climate change response and attaining low carbon climate change resilient development.

It will also manage climate change funds and set targets for the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and advise on how to mainstream climate change into the education sector.

Last week, Waiguru revealed that the 47 county governments had set aside a total of Sh877 million for climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives across the country.