By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, June 10, 2026 - County governments are laying plans to sustain and expand locally led climate action initiatives beyond 2026 as the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLLoCA) Programme enters its final phase.
The discussions took place during a meeting convened by the Council of Governors (CoG) in partnership with the FLLoCA Programme, bringing together County Executive Committee Members responsible for Environment, Climate Change, Water and Natural Resources Management.
The meeting focused on the future of climate financing, carbon markets, environmental governance and county preparedness for emerging climate risks, with leaders exploring ways to build on gains made under the programme.
Chairperson of the Council of Governors' Environment and Climate Change Committee, Dr. Wilber Ottichilo, said counties must document their experiences under the FLLoCA Programme to inform future climate interventions and funding opportunities.
"Counties must comprehensively document their achievements, lessons learned, best practices and implementation gaps under FLLoCA. These insights will be critical in shaping Phase II of the programme and strengthening county readiness to access future climate financing opportunities," said Dr. Ottichilo.
The FLLoCA Programme was established to channel climate finance directly to local communities, enabling counties to implement projects aimed at strengthening resilience to climate change while addressing local environmental challenges.
As the programme approaches its conclusion, county governments are increasingly focusing on long-term strategies to ensure climate action initiatives continue beyond the current funding cycle.
During the meeting, counties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening evidence-based planning through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) laboratories and the Council of Governors' Open Data Portal. Officials said improved data collection and analysis would enhance climate planning and help counties better identify and prioritize interventions.
Participants also emphasized the need to develop bankable climate projects capable of attracting investment from development partners, climate funds and private sector financiers.
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County governments further pledged to strengthen their capacity to participate in emerging carbon markets, which are increasingly being viewed as a potential source of revenue for conservation and climate mitigation projects.
The meeting also highlighted support for the national tree-growing initiative as part of efforts to increase forest cover, restore degraded ecosystems and contribute to Kenya's climate commitments.
At the same time, county leaders underscored the importance of improving preparedness for anticipated climate shocks, including droughts, floods and extreme weather events that continue to affect livelihoods and infrastructure across many parts of the country.
In a statement, the Council of Governors said these measures would help counties attract greater climate investments, strengthen environmental governance and build resilient communities capable of withstanding the growing impacts of climate change.
Kenya has experienced increasing climate-related challenges in recent years, with recurrent droughts and floods affecting millions of people and causing significant economic losses. County governments are expected to play a central role in implementing adaptation and resilience measures under the country's climate action agenda.
The deliberations are expected to contribute to the design of the next phase of the FLLoCA Programme and support efforts to secure sustainable climate financing for counties in the years ahead.