Comparing the Philippines Mangrove Case with Kenya
There are strong similarities between the Philippines case and the situation in Kenya, especially in how climate change is intensifying natural hazards and affecting vulnerable communities. In Kenya, common climate-related hazards include floods, droughts, landslides, and coastal storm surges. Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of these events, with floods occurring more often and drought cycles becoming shorter and more intense.
The areas facing the greatest impacts include coastal counties such as Kilifi, Lamu, and Kwale, which experience flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion, as well as arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) in northern and eastern Kenya that are highly vulnerable to drought. Informal settlements along riverbanks and flood plains, such as those near the Tana and Nzoia rivers, are also heavily affected.
The most affected communities are small-scale farmers, pastoralists, fishing communities, and low-income households. They are vulnerable because they rely directly on natural resources for their livelihoods, have limited adaptive capacity, and often live in high-risk areas. Similar to the Philippines, the loss of natural buffers such as mangroves along the Kenyan coast has increased exposure to coastal hazards.
In terms of solutions, Kenyan communities use local coping mechanisms such as traditional drought coping strategies, early planting of drought-tolerant crops, livestock mobility, sand dams, and community-based mangrove restoration along the coast. Coastal communities in Kenya, like those in Lamu and Kilifi, have also embraced mangrove restoration for shoreline protection and livelihoods, which closely mirrors the Philippine experience.
Support from institutions is also evident. The Government of Kenya, through agencies such as the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and county governments, supports ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation initiatives. Local and international NGOs, as well as development partners, provide technical assistance, funding, and capacity building. However, a key difference is that while Kenya has strong policy frameworks, implementation and sustained community ownership remain ongoing challenges.
Overall, both contexts demonstrate that community-led, nature-based solutions, supported by government and external partners, are effective in building resilience to climate change, though scaling and long-term sustainability remain critical challenges in Kenya.