Kenya Pursues KSh 247 Million Budget Increase for Environment and Climate Programs
Kenya’s State Department for Environment and Climate Change is seeking a KSh 247 million increase in its recurrent budget for the 2025/26 financial year, even as its development budget faces a KSh 231 million reduction – a contradiction that officials warn could undermine the country’s environmental and climate commitments.
The Supplementary Estimates for FY 2025/26 were presented by Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Dr. Eng. Festus Ngeno to the Departmental Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining, chaired by Mwala MP Hon. Eng. Vincent Musyoka, at a meeting held in Machakos.
Dr. Ngeno told the committee that the additional recurrent funds are primarily needed to cover day-to-day operations and maintenance, settle outstanding legal obligations, and channel transfers to the National Environment Trust Fund (NETFUND). The department also needs resources to support Kenya’s participation in major international environmental events, including global climate conferences and multilateral environmental forums, which the PS noted serve as critical platforms for mobilising development financing.
While the recurrent budget request paints a picture of an active department, the proposed KSh 231 million reduction in development spending is where officials expressed the sharpest concern. Two flagship programmes face the brunt of the cuts: the Kenya Gold Mercury-Free Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Project, which supports safer and cleaner mining practices for small-scale miners, and the Restoration and Management of Ecosystems for Climate Change Resilience Project, aimed at rehabilitating degraded landscapes.
Dr. Ngeno warned that the cuts could reduce forest rehabilitation targets and shrink tree seedling production – both central to Kenya’s climate mitigation and adaptation strategy. He urged Parliament to increase financial allocations and avoid what he described as “frequent budget cuts,” arguing that consistent and adequate funding is essential for Kenya to meaningfully address the growing impacts of climate change and honour its environmental obligations.
Despite the funding pressures, the State Department reported a number of tangible achievements during the review period. These include the issuance of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) licences, air quality monitoring operations in Nairobi and Mombasa, and enforcement actions tied to Kenya’s nationwide ban on single-use plastics. The department also raised tree seedlings, rehabilitated degraded forest in the Cherangany ecosystem, and conducted stakeholder training on environmental compliance and carbon markets. Weather agencies under the department’s purview also issued timely forecasts to support early warning systems.
The meeting was attended by senior officials including NEMA Director General Dr. Mamo Mamo, NETFUND CEO Samson Toniok, and Secretary Administration Mr. Mwongo Chimwaga, alongside committee members Hon. Charity Kathambi (Njoro), Hon. Namuar Emathe (Turkana Central), and nominated MP Hon. Joseph Wainaina.
The PS’s appeal reflects a growing tension in Kenya’s budget priorities – as climate change demands more ambitious action, the financial resources directed toward it risk moving in the opposite direction. With Kenya’s international climate commitments deepening and extreme weather events becoming more frequent, Parliament’s next move on the environment budget will be closely watched.
