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{
    "id": 1232959,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1232959/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 141,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Soipan Tuya",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 926,
        "legal_name": "Roselinda Soipan Tuya",
        "slug": "roselinda-soipan-tuya"
    },
    "content": "studied in Kenya. However, it is feasible to state that livestock deaths associated with long drought were spurred by extreme heat stress on the animals brought out by heat extremes, high evaporative demand that result in low soil moisture and decreased surface water availability. The need to understand the compounding risk posed by the combined effects of droughts and extreme heat events, especially in ASAL areas of Kenya, are dire. Extreme heat events interact with other factors such as exposure and vulnerability and inadequate adaptive capacity resulting in greater impacts. The associated impacts of extreme heat events on livestock are negative psychological effects of heat stress on animals’ metabolism and productivity and indirectly, buyer increased disease burden, reduced water availability and inadequate pasture. There is a question to provide the status of records maintained on critical heat wave events experienced in the country and to clarify whether such records have been used to provide disaster warning. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) concluded that the past eight years were the warmest on record globally fuelled by ever rising greenhouse gas concentrations and accumulated heat according to six consolidated international temperature data sets: 2022 was the eighth consecutive year between 2015 and 2022 that annual global temperatures have reached at least one per cent above the pre-industrial levels. In view of this, Kenya started monitoring heat waves from 2022. This monitoring was likewise spurred on by an analysis done in the generation of the Annual State of the Climate document which is annexed in this presentation. The initial analysis carried out examined daily data from 1991 to date and identified the following thresholds for issuing heat health alert warnings in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa respectively based on historical data records: The threshold for Nairobi is that the daily maximum of 32 degrees Celsius plus for three or more days would account for a heat wave. In Kisumu, a daily maximum of 37 degrees Celsius plus for three or more days would equally be the threshold. In Mombasa, a daily maximum of 36 degrees Celsius plus for three or more days would also form the threshold. These heat waves identified in the historical record are all documented as described in the above section with regard to the three counties. As previously outlined, KMD is working on expanding the threshold to cover many other regions in the country which would eventually then speak to the adaptation measures required. Additional research and studies are crucial to determine the impact of heat waves and other climate change phenomena on livelihoods in Kenya. In its seasonal forecast, KMD incorporates temperature forecasts for various parts of the country. These prepare stakeholders and the public for either high or low temperatures during the seasons. The fourth question is on the measures the Ministry is taking to mitigate the impacts of heat waves on human health and livestock in the country. Hon. Speaker, in ASALs regions of Kenya and Africa at large, livestock species, particularly sheep, goats and cattle are typically a major source of livelihood, survival and source of food. It may also be converted to cash to support livelihoods. The change in the heat seasons increases vulnerability. This, therefore, calls for an urgent need to develop effective adaptation strategies including increased uptake of emerging technologies such as the zai pits which are planting pits that provide efficient water farming technology and are often used in ASALs to maximise water utilisation by crops."
}