A new report from UNICEF underscores the escalating threats posed by climate change, environmental degradation, and pollution to the well-being of children across Kenya.
The Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) reveals that millions of children are already facing severe consequences of extreme weather events, unreliable water sources, and environmental hazards.
The burden falls most heavily on those in arid regions, informal settlements, and impoverished rural areas.
Kenya contributes less than 0.1 per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions but is among the nations most severely impacted by climate shifts.
According to the report, an estimated 12 million children, nearly half of the country’s child population, are exposed to moderate to very high risks associated with climate and disaster events.
Within this group, 2.4 million children reside in counties categorized as extremely high risk, including Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, Wajir, Mandera, Garissa, and Tana River.
The health impacts of the climate crisis are particularly alarming. Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns have expanded the geographical spread of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, and cholera.
Currently, 10 million children are exposed to malaria risks. Air pollution from burning fossil fuels and poor waste management contributes to thousands of deaths annually, with children especially vulnerable to respiratory illnesses.
At the same time, prolonged droughts and severe flooding are disrupting food systems, driving up malnutrition rates.
In Kenya’s arid and semi-arid regions, at least 1.7 million people are projected to require urgent nutrition assistance by 2025.
Education is also under significant strain. Climate shocks frequently force school closures and damage infrastructure, particularly in rural and drought-prone areas.
Children are increasingly missing school to help their families cope with water scarcity and food insecurity.
Many, especially girls, spend hours fetching water daily, sacrificing learning opportunities in the process.
The report also raises concern about increasing child protection risks linked to the climate emergency.
Economic pressure on families due to crop failure, livestock losses, and displacement is leading to negative coping mechanisms, such as child marriage, child labour, and family separation.
Displacement resulting from floods and prolonged droughts leaves children more susceptible to violence, neglect, and exploitation.
UNICEF’s analysis highlights major gaps in disaster preparedness, climate resilience planning, and social protection systems.
Despite various policy frameworks in place, implementation remains uneven and rarely addresses the specific vulnerabilities of children.
The report calls for urgent, multi-sectoral action to ensure that children are placed at the heart of Kenya’s climate adaptation strategies.
This includes scaling up investments in child-sensitive infrastructure, improving access to clean energy, water, and healthcare, and integrating climate education across all levels.
The CLAC report ultimately frames the climate crisis as a direct and urgent child rights issue.
It emphasizes that without decisive action, Kenya’s youngest citizens will continue to face the harshest impacts of a crisis they did not create.
Investing in child-centred resilience measures is critical not only to safeguard their present but also to secure the country’s long-term future.