Rising Lake Water Levels Highlight Urgent Need for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

Later, Principal Secretary, Eng. Joseph Mbugua, appeared before the Parliamentary Committee undertaking an inquiry into the rising water levels of lakes across Kenya and their growing impact on communities, livelihoods, public infrastructure and the environment.

Appearing before the Committee, chaired by Eng. Vincent Musyoka the PS explained that the rising lake levels, which have been observed in different parts of the country since 2010, are driven by a combination of natural and human-induced factors.

“Rising lake levels are a result of a combination of natural and human-induced factors, and their effects are increasingly being felt across the country,” Eng. Mbugua told the Committee.

He noted that the situation presents a growing challenge to the country’s transport infrastructure, particularly road and rail connectivity, with vulnerable sections increasingly exposed to flooding and other climate-related impacts.

Against this backdrop, Eng. Mbugua called for a stronger focus on climate resilience in the planning, design and construction of road infrastructure.

“While enhanced climate resilience comes at an additional cost, it is an essential investment in safeguarding connectivity and ensuring continued access to communities that are vulnerable to climate-related events,” he said.

The PS further stressed that building resilient infrastructure must be complemented by better information and early-warning systems. He called for strengthened monitoring, forecasting and data-sharing mechanisms to enable authorities to identify vulnerable areas early and respond with targeted interventions.

“We need to strengthen monitoring, forecasting and data sharing so that we can identify vulnerable areas early and take timely and targeted action,” Eng. Mbugua said.

He emphasized that proactive planning and investment in resilient infrastructure will be critical in protecting Kenya’s transport networks and ensuring that communities remain connected as the country confronts the increasing impacts of climate change.

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