Role of Communication and Public Participation in Provision of Health, Food Security and Water Security in Kenya

Abstract

Climate change refers to significant, long-term changes in the global climate. The global climate is the connected system of sun, earth and oceans, wind, rain and snow, forests, deserts and savannas, and everything people do as well. This paper discusses climate change and the effects it posits. The paper specifically looks at food security, water security and health which are sustainable development goals 2, 6 and 3 respectively. This paper therefore argues that communication and public participation are independent variables and key players in ensuring people have needed information that may translate to the provision of food security, water security and health, all of which are dependent variables. The paper makes use of the media framing theory in bringing out pictures as a media communication strategy in explaining the adverse effects of climate change in order to call for intended action. The sustainable development goals discussed in this paper are among the socio-economic rights of every person as stipulated in article 43 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. The constitution of Kenya 2010 allows for communication and public participation. The constitution of Kenya gives provision for public participation and leaders in Kenya need to give room for people to give their input in making key decisions on sustainable ways of dealing with climate change. Policies and key decisions that have stakeholders’ input are more sustainable and pragmatic in implementation. The paper concludes by giving viable suggestions on how everyone can be involved in the conversation of climate change in order to make the environment and the world a better place to live in.