Bungoma County officials, led by Governor Kenneth Lusaka, on Tuesday appeared before the Senate Committee on Lands and Environment to outline progress and challenges in the implementation of FLOCCA-funded projects.
The session, chaired by Mohamed Faki, sought to assess the impact of the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action (FLOCCA) programme, a national initiative aimed at strengthening climate resilience at the county level.
Governor Lusaka told the committee that despite initial hurdles, the projects have significantly improved livelihoods across Bungoma, particularly in climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and water management.
“When we started, we faced a few challenges, especially because some communities misunderstood the programme and assumed it was free money to be shared and controlled at the local level, contrary to the established guidelines,” Lusaka said.
He noted that continuous civic education and stakeholder engagement had since helped align community expectations with the programme’s objectives, enabling smoother implementation.
However, the governor raised concern over delays in the disbursement of funds, warning that such setbacks have negatively affected the execution of time-sensitive, weather-dependent projects.
“Late disbursements have at times disrupted project timelines, particularly those reliant on seasonal weather patterns,” he told senators.
Committee chair Faki urged the National Treasury to expedite the release of FLOCCA funds to counties, emphasizing that timely financing is critical to ensuring projects are completed as scheduled and deliver tangible benefits to communities.
Analysts note that while FLOCCA projects hold promise in enhancing grassroots climate adaptation, their success hinges on efficient fund flow, local capacity building, and sustained public awareness to prevent misconceptions that can derail implementation.
The Senate committee is expected to compile a report with recommendations aimed at streamlining fund disbursement and strengthening oversight mechanisms to maximize the programme’s impact nationwide.
