Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Eng. Festus Ng’eno has said the state department is accelerating a series of legislative and policy reforms aimed at reinforcing Kenya’s environmental governance and climate action framework.
According to the Department’s latest portfolio of ongoing Government Legislative Agenda initiatives, several priority regulations and policy reviews are at advanced stages, signalling a strong commitment to aligning the country’s legal framework with emerging global climate trends and national development priorities.
Speaking when he hosted the Parliamentary Affairs Principal Secretary Aurelia Rono for a high-level roundtable discussion on legislative priorities within the environment sector, Eng. Ng’eno said that at the centre of the reforms is the review of the National Environment Policy (2013), which is currently in its initial stages.
The review seeks to update the policy to reflect changes in Kenya’s governance landscape while strengthening the integration of environmental considerations into planning at both national and county levels.
The State Department is also spearheading the development of key regulations under the Climate Change Act to operationalise Kenya’s climate commitments.
Among these are the Climate Change (Non-Market Approaches) Regulations, 2026, which have already been published, with proposed amendments submitted for formal drafting.
These regulations are expected to facilitate international cooperation under Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement and support the implementation of Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Other critical frameworks in progress include the Carbon Trading Regulations, 2026 and the Carbon Registry Regulations, 2026, both currently undergoing pre-publication scrutiny in Parliament. These are designed to establish transparent and efficient systems for managing carbon markets and tracking carbon projects across the country.
In addition, the Climate Change Fund Regulations, 2026 is under technical development.
The proposed fund aims to mobilise financial resources, including loans, grants, and equity, to support climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, promote green innovation, and provide technical assistance to county governments.
Beyond climate finance and markets, the government is also prioritizing ecosystem protection through the Environmental Management and Coordination (Wetlands) Regulations, 2026, which are currently under parliamentary review.
These regulations seek to enhance the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of wetlands while integrating their protection into land use planning and national development strategies.
Further, the PS said the Strategic and Integrated Environmental Assessment and Environmental Audit Regulations, 2026 aim to strengthen oversight of projects, policies, and programmes that may have environmental impacts, ensuring that sustainability considerations are embedded across all sectors.
On her part, Parliamentary Affairs Principal Secretary Ms Aurelia Rono expressed satisfaction with the progress made, noting that various State Departments have significantly contributed to the realisation of the national development agenda through diverse, targeted policies, initiatives, and interventions.
“The document remains dynamic, continually evolving to respond to emerging issues. As of March 2026, we have recorded a total of 1,308 initiatives across the national government. These comprise 671 statutory instruments, 290 policy initiatives, and 388 state initiatives,” she affirmed.
All the listed initiatives have been designated as a priority under the current ministerial performance commitments, underscoring the urgency placed on environmental protection and climate resilience.
Once enacted, the reforms are expected to significantly enhance Kenya’s capacity to respond to climate change, safeguard critical ecosystems and promote sustainable economic growth.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
