Impacts on migration
Climate change is profoundly reshaping migration patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa, with Kenya being particularly affected. The increasing frequency of floods, droughts, and extreme heat is driving internal displacements and resource conflicts, pushing vulnerable communities to seek safer environments. This text explores the various ways climate change influences migration in Kenya, highlighting the threats to food, water, and infrastructure, as well as the challenges posed by rapid urbanization. It also discusses potential strategies to mitigate these impacts, helping communities adapt to the changing climate and reduce migration pressures.
How does climate change affect migration?
Climate change significantly influences migration patterns in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Kenya, increased floods, droughts, and extreme heat lead to internal displacements and conflicts over resources. Increased vulnerabilities caused by climate change that could lead to migration include:
- Severe drought threatens food and water availability, driving migration. Climate changes, such as increased floods, droughts and extreme heat, threaten the availability of food, pasture and water. This makes marginalized communities even more vulnerable.
- Changing weather patterns, especially heavy rainfall, increases social unrest. As migration, internal displacements, and conflicts increase, researchers have connected changing weather patterns—especially wetter years—to social unrest. This suggests that climate insecurity could get worse with expected increases in heavy rainfall.
- Rapid urbanization increases vulnerability of informal settlements to climate extremes. The rapid urbanization of Kenya further complicates the situation, as informal settlements become increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts such as floods and heatwaves, primarily due to inadequate infrastructure and high population density.
- Climate change and changes in land use create major risks for critical infrastructure. Climate change, along with changes in land use from agricultural to residential settlements, creates major risks for interconnected infrastructure systems, such as electricity, transportation, communication, drainage, and water supply. Moreover, the performance of Kenya’s water–energy–food infrastructure is expected to be negatively impacted by recurrent multi-year droughts and flash floods.
- Coastal communities and communities in the Great Rift Valley face displacement. Coastal and Great Rift Valley communities face additional displacement due to rising sea and lake levels, impacting infrastructure, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.
- Climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities within marginalized communities. As a “multiplier of threats”, climate change affects human security both directly and indirectly and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities within marginalized communities. For example, the severe drought between 2021 and 2023 forced nearly 180,000 people to migrate from Somalia and South Sudan to drought-affected regions in Kenya and Ethiopia.
What can we do to reduce the impacts on migration?
To mitigate the impacts of climate change on migration in Kenya, several strategies can be implemented. By focusing on these strategies, Kenya can better prepare for and respond to the challenges posed by climate change, ultimately reducing the risks associated with migration. These strategies include:
- Build Resilience: Strengthening resilience against climate change impacts is essential. This includes promoting locally led adaptation efforts that empower communities to respond effectively to environmental changes.
- Diversify Livelihoods: Encouraging households to diversify their income sources can enhance economic stability. For example, some pastoralist communities in Kenya have started beekeeping to supplement their incomes and increase climate resilience.
- Early Warning Systems: Providing timely, user-friendly climate information is crucial, as over 70% of Kenya’s workforce is employed in climate-sensitive sectors. Implementing early warning systems and response strategies can help safeguard lives and property during climate hazards.
- Financial Safety Nets: Establishing emergency cash transfer programs can support vulnerable communities during climate-related disasters. The Hunger Safety Net Programme, which operates in Kenya’s most at-risk counties, has helped nearly 5 million people during crises, improving food security and preventing households from falling into poverty.
How can we adapt to the effects of climate change?
To avoid major risks and climate damage, we must adapt to the effects of climate change. We can achieve this by making our urban and rural areas climate-proof and water-resistant. This is called climate adaptation. On the Measures page you can find more information about measures you can take to protect crops from climate change.
Vision 2030
Kenya Vision 2030 is the long-term sustainable development blueprint for the country and is motivated by a collective aspiration for a better society by the year 2030. It outlines a pathway to sustainable development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The government has established national implementation frameworks for achieving Vision 2030 and provides technical guidelines for investing in low-carbon and climate-resilient adaptation and development. These mechanisms enable the government to define and engage local adaptation solutions at a community level. For example, the County Climate Change Fund is a mechanism that invests in locally led adaptation and promotes citizen engagement. The government has also established an emergency cash transfer program for vulnerable households during extreme weather events, such as drought and flooding.
The above video gives an introduction to climate change adaptation in Eastern and Southern Africa. Many examples of climate change adaptation are provided.
