FEBRUARY 2025
Kenya’s Green Leadership
Shaping Africa’s Climate Future
By Robina Abuya
Introduction
Africa is at the front line of the climate crisis, with vulnerabilities rooted in its dependence on
rain-fed agriculture and fragile ecosystems. Kenya, which ranks 145 out of 187 countries in climate
vulnerability according to the 2022 NDGAIN index exemplies both the urgency of the challenge and
the opportunity for transformative action.
1
Despite its susceptibility to droughts, oods, and rising
temperatures, Kenya has positioned itself as a regional leader in climate action, charting a path that
combines bold policy innovation, green industrialization, and international collaboration.
Kenya’s leadership is underscored by its proactive measures, such as hosting the inaugural Africa
Climate Summit in 2023, which culminated in the Nairobi Declaration—a landmark commitment to
advancing green growth across the continent. President William Ruto’s chairmanship of both the
African Green Industrialization Initiative and the Committee of African Heads of State and Government
on Climate Change has further cemented Kenya’s role in driving Africa’s climate and green enery
agendas. These initiatives have unlocked new opportunities for nancing and implementing large-scale,
high-impact green projects that align with Kenya’s vision for sustainable development.
Kenya has made signicant strides toward implementing this vision, with 90 percent of its enery
produced from renewable sources and policies rated as compatible with the Paris Agreement’s
goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
2
However, substantial challenges remain. The
country needs $40 billion in investment over the next decade to meet its climate goals, according to
its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) nancing stratey. At the same time, Kenya excels in
natural capital protection, according to the 2023 Kenya Green Growth Index, reecting its commitment
to conserving ecosystems even as it advances economic development.
3
This report is based on eld research conducted in Kenya at the national level and subnational level
(counties) in the fall of 2024. At the request of the interviewees, their comments have been kept
anonymous. In conducting this study, we met with a broad section cross-section of informants: national
