Advancing climate and health policies in Kenya: Insights from national policy stakeholders

Climate change is increasingly recognized as one of the most critical determinants of global public health. The intersection of climate and health requires urgent attention if the impacts of climate change on health are to be mitigated. Kenya has been scaling efforts to address the challenges of the climate-health nexus, but the question of how to integrate climate change and health policy remains unanswered.

This study aimed to answer this question by conducting interviews with 21 high-level stakeholders working on climate change, health, and related policy areas in the months of April to July 2024. Data gathered from the interviews was supplemented by climate change and health literature.

Nearly all respondents agree that climate change and health policy should be explicitly integrated. This integration could enhance the use of financial resources, amplify co-benefits, and simplify the management of the two issues. Integration is, however, barred by the siloed nature of working and limited collaboration within these sectors, limited funding and data access, a shortage of skilled personnel, lack of political goodwill, and weak institutionalization of innovative ideas. To encourage integration, respondents identified interventions such as increased advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and international efforts focused on climate and health solutions. For improved collaboration, several suggestions including establishing cross-sector partnerships, conducting joint research, building capacity, and implementing holistic approaches like the One Health Model, were proposed.

The findings from this study reveal that, although the national climate and health policy remain integrated to some degree, there exists several avenues and benefits of deepening the linkage. This study, therefore, provides a discussion on the potential implications of the findings for health and climate professionals, advocacy groups, researchers, government, the private sector, donors, and legislators.