Climate Change Bill, 2012 … where dots did not connect

Background

Kenya has realized a number of milestones in matters of climate change. In 1994, the nation ratified the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change – an international environmental treaty that was produced during the Rio EarthSummit (formally known as United Nation Conference on Environment and Development) in June 1992 - as well as Kyoto Protocol in 2005. Kenya has also been well represented by government officials, non-governmental organizational and other actors during the COP processes since 1995. The nation has also developed key policy and institutional frameworks, such as National Climate Change Response Strategy (2009) and National Climate Change Action Plan (2013-2017). Kenya is also the second country that has established a climate change secretariat in Africa. The Climate Change Bill (2012) could have been ranked among these landmarks, had it been assented to and passed as an act of parliament. But it didn’t. So, what went wrong??

The journey to the bill

The climate change phenomenon has been around for centuries. However, it took a different turn in the 1980’s when its impacts became more evident through increased desertification, crop failure, droughts, flash floods et cetera. Around the same time, the climate change discourse also took a political turn when different states came together to raise a united voice on tackling and mitigating climate change across the globe. This saw the formation of United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Kenya ratified the UNFCCC in 1994, joining other nations in the journey to combat climate change.

In order to effectively address this menace, there was a need for a policy and institutional framework to play the oversight and coordination roles among others. This saw non state actors in Kenya uniting to develop recommendations and way forward on climate change.  In 2008, the first motion on the need for a global warming bill in Kenya was tabled by Hon. Franklin Bett. In 2009, Kenya Climate Change Working Group was formed after the amalgamation of The National Climate Change Consortium of Kenya and Kenya Climate Change Forum (KCCF). KCCWG prioritized the need for Climate Change Bill. It established the bill drafters and conducted national wide consultations.

In 2012, the bill was tabled in the parliament by Hon. Wilber Otichillo for debate. It passed through the three readings but did not receive the presidential assent due to lack of public participation, as outline in the presidential memo explaining the rejection to assenting to it.

A walk through the bill

The six-part bill provided for establishment of climate change council, framework for mitigation and adaptation to climate change effects and development of climate change response strategies. The bill outlined various functions of the climate change council, which includes advisory, coordination, education and awareness creation, research and publication as well as negotiations on climate change matters at county, national and international levels. Further, the bill outlined the composition of this council, their roles and qualifications. The climate change bill also outlined climate change programmes and response strategies in the areas of mitigation, adaptation, education, awareness and research, as well as capacity building. The firth part of the bill outlined the financial provisions, including the climate change trust fund. The fund was to be a central kitty for collecting and distributing climate change finances, and was to be managed by a board of trustees.

Plate 1: Keen AYICC Kenya participants during the debate

The gaps in the bill

Oblivious of the hard work put in place by the masterminds of the bill, there were several outstanding gaps. In the presidential memorandum, lack of public participation was listed as the major reason behind the lack of presidential accent. Further, the Transparency International Report (2012) indicated that bill was highly mutilated in its third reading. Such includes the change of its title from Climate Change Authority Bill to Climate Change Council Council Bill. This could have possibly have created a conflict between the CC Council and National Environmental Council. The scope of the bill was also amended, a point that could have necessitated stakeholder’s consultations.  Further, other schedules (such as provisions on public participation) were done during the third reading and did not undergo the proper stakeholder’s consultation as required in the policy formulation process. TI further raised the concern that the bill should have set a quota for CSO representatives, rather than explicitly naming them. Various gaps also emerged during the debate. Such includes the the 10 years experience required for one to be a board member. This denies most youth the opportunity to be in the board and make decision in regards to climate change. There also lacked a clear policy framework to guide implementation of the bill. The debate also queried the need for addition policies and institutions instead of empowering the existing ones. The implication of the bill could have been increased spending of the tax payer’s money and duplication of effort and roles.

Plate 2: Millicent Omala from KCCWG taking the participants through the Bill and its development process

The way forward

After the Bill failed to receive presidential assent, the bill drafters went back to the drawing board and identified crucial gaps that the bill would address. Such included policy and institutional gaps. KCCWG organized a multi stakeholder forum to chat the way forward in February 2013. Different stakeholders were also given a chance to hand over their written submissions and recommendations.  The submissions have since been reviewed. The group is in the process of reaching out through media and other channels to gain support for the bill. Further, it is in the process of organizing a national stakeholder forum to build consensus on the bill.

Complied by Kennedy Wahome

Communications Coordinator, AYICC Kenya