He called for action to combat the climate crisis in order to address the root cause of the problem.
"Drought, which derives from climate change, is creating enormous difficulties," Mattarella said after meeting Kenyan President William Ruto at the State House in Nairobi.
"Drought creates a food crisis that further pushes migratory phenomenon.
"This issue is central.
"We feel drought in Europe, too.
"The (Italian) government is committed to combating climate change in its program and Italy has warned of the need for serious, concrete action for some time.
"It pains us that some countries want to delay addressing the problem.
"There is no more time. The fight against climate change must start at once".
Returning to the issue of migration, Mattarella called for the EU to do more to take the burden off countries which, for geographical reasons, are more exposed, Italy first and foremost.
"The level of cooperation with Kenya is exemplary and it is a model that can be replicated anywhere," Mattarella said.
"Common problems can be effectively addressed via cooperation.
"We seek relationships of cooperation with the countries of origin of the (migrant) flows, but we know that the historic and growing size of the migratory phenomenon cannot be faced by one country alone, but only with lucid, well-organised European action that addresses the problem with systemic action."
ANSA
