Bungoma Senator David Wafula Wakoli has called for major policy changes across Africa to tackle rising methane emissions, warning that climate change is becoming a serious threat to livelihoods, food security, and economic growth on the continent.
Speaking during the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Regional Seminar on Climate Action in Nairobi, Wafula urged African governments and lawmakers to develop stronger climate laws and invest in cleaner technologies to reduce harmful emissions.
The seminar brought together more than 100 lawmakers from over 20 African countries to discuss ways of reducing methane emissions while protecting agriculture and rural livelihoods.
Methane is considered one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases because it traps heat much faster than carbon dioxide. Climate experts say it is over 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period and is responsible for nearly 30 per cent of global warming since the industrial era.
Wafula stressed that African countries should not blindly copy climate policies from developed nations without considering local realities such as pastoralism, small-scale farming, and food production systems that millions of people depend on.
The senator further pushed for balanced policies that protect the environment while safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers and pastoralist communities who are already struggling with drought, floods, and food shortages linked to climate change.
During the discussions, lawmakers highlighted livestock farming, waste management, manure handling, and rice cultivation as some of the leading sources of methane emissions in Africa.
Leaders at the forum also called for increased investment in modern livestock feeds, biogas technology, better waste management systems, and cleaner cooking energy to help cut methane emissions without hurting rural economies.
Kenya has already begun several climate mitigation programmes, including the installation of thousands of household biogas systems and the implementation of the National Cooking Transition Strategy aimed at expanding access to clean energy.
Overall, Wafula’s remarks reflect growing pressure on African governments to adopt practical climate policies that address methane emissions while still protecting economic development and the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.