Uhai Lake Forum (ULF) - a member organization of the Kenya Nile Discourse Forum (KNDF) is implementing a Baseline Emission Inventory and Access to Energy Assessment Study for Kisumu County, Kenya. The study is to build capacity of the County Government of Kisumu officials, equipping them with skills to check / analyse greenhouse emission within the County, and come up with measures on how to control the same.

The overall objective for the study is to develop a baseline emission inventory for Kisumu County. Specifically, the study is to identify all sources of sectorial Green House Gas (GHG) emission within Kisumu County as a territory and Institution. The study will also model Kisumu County Baseline Emission Inventory and also build capacity of Kisumu County technical staff on developing and updating Green House Gas emission inventory and carbon accountability for projects.

To ensure an objective strategic orientation for Kisumu County to mitigate GHG emissions within the county’s institution and jurisdiction by 2030 and 2050, modelling of the BEI will be implemented under two scenarios namely: Business as Usual scenario (BAU), and Voluntary & Optimistic Scenario (SEACAP). Emission reduction targets shall consider Kenya’s Intended National Determined Contribution (INDC) and follow the JRC emission reduction characteristic.

Knowledge and skills from the study will be transferred to the County Technical staff through training.

The study will assess access to Energy, and develop indicators, where unavailable; assess energy for Clean Cooking, heating and electricity within households, public buildings and within micro and informal enterprises; develop baseline Energy consumption and production inventory within Kisumu County Jurisdiction; and also develop gender focused consumer inventory for sectorial energy access.

Devising and implementing a sustainable energy and climate action plan is a challenging and requires collaboration and coordination between all stakeholders.

ULF in partnership with county government of Kisumu department of Environment, Natural Resource, Water and Climate Change organized a stakeholder engagement workshop; and interactive presentations on the Overview of the baseline emission inventory, Access to energy assessment and Stakeholder engagement strategies were delivered. Additionally, the platform provided space for general discussions, feedback and questions & answer session, and a sectorial breakout session for all stakeholders in the project.

The workshop aimed at making sure that stakeholders understand the study in general, their roles in the study, data requirements from their organizations, and also consent to sharing their organizations/institutions data for the study.

Stakeholders agreed to disclose relevant data and also promised to work closely with their stakeholders to avail the required data for the study. The agreed to participate in the subsequent SEACAP processes.

Overall, beyond the stated responsibilities and expectations them, the stakeholders' active participation and their expression of satisfaction at the end of the workshop was a validation of their unwavering support and contribution to the study.

Ultimately, the project is a leaping step forward into making informed decisions, and getting government authorities directly involved into the fight against environmental pollution in Kisumu County of Kenya.