By James Wakahiu
National Assembly Speaker
Dr Moses Wetangula has cautioned Kenyans to be aware of the ongoing devastating
impact of climate change in the region, calling for urgent measures by everyone
to stem the tide.
Mr Wetangula said climate
change interventions need a serious commitment because of their adverse and
disruptive effects to human ecosystems, to human operations and subsistence, as
well as to human wellness and overall lifestyles.
“We need not belabour the very
well-known realities regarding Climate Change and the greenhouse effects in our
lives today. Climate change and the greenhouse effects are attributed directly
and indirectly to human activity,” he said.
Making reference to various
authorities including the Federal Institute of Science and Technology in USA,
he noted that global warming is the average rise in temperature on the earth’s
surface (both land and at the oceans) which leads to changes in the global
climatic patterns or climate change and is one of the gravest crises facing the
whole world today.
He was speaking at Mount
Kenya University (MKU)’s 23rd graduation ceremony held under the theme Embracing
Law, Science and Technology for Advancement of Climate Change interventions in
Thika town last weekend.
Over 6,000 students from 12
different countries were conferred Degrees and awarded Diplomas. Among them
were 15 PhDs, 349 Masters, and 3,618 Bachelor’s Degree recipients.
Mr Wetangula, who was the
chief gust, reminded the graduates and their parents, varsity managers and dons
that on September 8, 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta officially declared drought
in the arid and semi-arid (ASAL) parts of Kenya a national disaster.
“Fifteen out of 23 ASAL counties in
Kenya have experienced widespread droughts in the last two years alongside the
entire Horn of Africa. This as a global and not an isolated phenomenon,” he
said.
The speaker said calls for
multi-faceted strategies and use of law, science, technology and innovation in
sustainable interventions are an obligation to all stakeholders. “All governments
and their agencies across the world, NGOs, institutions of higher learning,
business communities, professional bodies, and all other stakeholders working
together are called upon to contribute individually and collectively towards
this glaring danger of our current times,” he added.
Mr Wetangula said the rise
in research on “greenhouse” effects and climate change mitigation is a vital
input by universities and research organisations for bridging the glaring
national policy gaps. These include areas of environmental education, consumer
behaviour, rewarding and sanctions systems, as well as in legislation and
government or organisational support in climate change mitigation.
The Speaker highlighted the
various intergovernmental agreements / treaties that have been signed over the
years to globally support climate change mitigation.
“Noting the global occurrences such
as the Greenland heating and ice loss, widespread droughts and flooding, we
must all take responsibility. There has to be clear strategies to ensure all
the above mentioned agreements are implemented for the sake of humanity,” he
said.
In support of the above,
the Speaker said, President William Ruto, has declared and has put in place
modalities of planting 15 billion trees by 2032. “We all need to support this
clarion call and make it a reality,” he added, congratulating the MKU
administration for its efforts in tree planting and environmental conservation.
MKU founder and chairman of
the board of directors, Prof Simon Gicharu, said the climate change challenge
comes with numerous opportunities for innovative and creative entrepreneurs.
“These include coming up with innovative solutions for clean and green energy,
tree planting, restoration of water towers, conservation, and Cloud Seeding
Technology,” he said.
Congratulating the
graduates, he asked them to apply this innovative spirit in their areas of
training and expertise. “If your field is I.C.T, you should not just be an
I.C.T specialist. Be innovative and identify other opportunities in areas such
as Artificial Intelligence. Use the existing e-resources to discover the
emerging opportunities arising from disruptions,” he said. Climate change
Recently, the university
was awarded a Sh4 million grant by the UK’s Knowledge Transfer Network (UK KTN)
to pilot an Internet of Things-enabled machine that allows shopkeepers to
accurately dispense as little as a few cents’ worth of washing powder into
reusable containers thereby increasing profit margins for store owners and
reducing single-use plastic, which is a major contributor to environmental
pollution and climate change.
During the fete,
International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan awarded an Honorary
Doctorate in Law in recognition of his contributions to the rule of law and
international justice. Dr Khan hailed the value of education in the growth and
development of humanity and reckoned that climate change theme of the
graduation ceremony “resonates very well with the time we are living in.
“Any compromise on the
ability of environment to sustain human existence will ultimately bear
unfathomable consequences to the peace and stability the world is enjoying
today,” he added.
He pledged to support the
development and growth of MKU Parklands School of Law (as an alumnus) so as to
enhance sustained competencies in training law.
“Whenever possible, I will
participate in any non-conflicting engagements while offering material and
ideological support when called upon,” Dr. Khan added.
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