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Majorities of Kenyans support greater investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and wind and solar energy in order to respond to changing weather patterns and environmental degradation.
The latest Afrobarometer survey reveals.
More than four in 10 citizens say they have personally adapted to changes in climate by
changing the crops they plant or the food they eat, the hours they work, and their water consumption patterns.
A majority of Kenyans say they are familiar with the concept of climate change. Most
citizens who are aware of the phenomenon blame human activities as its main cause
and say urgent action is needed from the Kenyan government as well as developed
countries.
Key findings
▪ Most Kenyans want their government to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure (82%) and solar and wind energy (62%) in response to changing weather patterns and
environmental degradation.
Three-fourths (74 percent) say the government should put more pressure on rich countries to provide resources to support Kenya’s response to climatic changes.
A slimmer majority (54%) support a ban on cutting down trees for firewood or
charcoal, while fewer than half say the government should require families to
switch to cookstoves that use cleaner fuels such as electricity or gas (42%) and
promote the use of taxis and buses that run on electricity (36%).
▪ In substantial numbers, Kenyans say they have adapted to changing weather
patterns by reducing their livestock or changing their grazing patterns (45% of those who keep livestock), reducing their water consumption or changing their water
source (45%), changing their work hours (43%), or changing the crops they plant or
the food they eat (42%) (Figure 2).
▪ About six in 10 Kenyans (61%) say they have heard of climate change (Figure 3).
▪ Among those who have heard of climate change:
More than four-fifths (82%) believe human activity is the main cause or acontributing factor (Figure 4).
Strong majorities support measures to limit climate change by the Kenyan government (72%) and rich countries (81%), and most say that wealthy countries have an obligation to help Kenya fund its response to climate change (83%).
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Nine survey rounds in up to 42 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 10 surveys were launched in January 2024. Afrobarometer’s national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice.
