Kenya has called for stronger partnerships, increased green financing, and practical action to accelerate Africa’s transition to a sustainable and climate-resilient economy.
Environment and Climate Change Principal Secretary Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno made the call while delivering closing remarks at the inaugural Green Works 4 Africa Forum in Nairobi, which brought together governments, development partners, investors, private-sector leaders, academia, and other stakeholders.
Ng’eno said the forum had provided an important platform to move the continent’s green economy agenda beyond discussions in conference halls and boardrooms to concrete investments, innovation, and implementation.
He said particular emphasis should be placed on building Africa’s green jobs ecosystem and scaling investment-ready solutions capable of creating opportunities for the continent’s growing youthful population.
“Nearly 90 per cent of our electricity generation comes from renewable sources,” Ng’eno said, highlighting Kenya’s progress in using clean energy to support businesses, communities, and economic resilience.
He added that as Africa seeks to leverage its youthful population, natural resources, innovation, and skills, governments must simultaneously strengthen environmental conservation efforts.
He urged stakeholders to protect forests, restore degraded landscapes, conserve biodiversity, and enhance climate resilience.
Ng’eno said the partnerships and commitments forged during the Nairobi forum should now translate into policies, investments, and practical programmes across the continent.
“The work must now extend beyond Nairobi,” he said, calling for the green workforce agenda to deliver tangible opportunities for Africa’s young people.
Meanwhile, National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Director-General Dr. Mamo B. Mamo has called for greater environmental responsibility and increased use of green financing to support sustainable development.
Mamo was speaking in Nairobi during the launch of Kenya Development Corporation’s (KDC) new products and the unveiling of its sustainability and financing strategy.
He said sustainable development requires responsible use of natural resources, protection of ecosystems, and forward-looking investments that reduce carbon emissions.
According to Mamo, investments in clean-energy projects such as solar power can help businesses and institutions lower their carbon footprints while supporting the country’s transition to a greener economy.
He also urged investors and financial institutions to explore green financing instruments, including green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, and green mortgages, to fund environmentally sustainable projects.
Mamo said NEMA would continue ensuring that environmental considerations are mainstreamed into development projects so that they remain socially, environmentally, and economically viable.
The NEMA chief stressed that environmental sustainability does not necessarily require complex interventions, noting that simple everyday actions can contribute significantly to reducing environmental degradation.
He cited switching off unnecessary lights, carpooling, and proper waste disposal as examples of actions that citizens can adopt.
He particularly called for a change in public attitudes towards waste management, saying Kenya already has a robust legal and institutional framework for environmental protection but requires greater citizen participation.
“Despite availability of a robust legal and institutional framework to manage the environment in the country, what is still lacking is the citizens’ action on the environment,” Mamo said.
He pointed to the 2010 Constitution, noting that its preamble recognises the need to respect and sustain the environment as a heritage for present and future generations.
He further cited Article 42, which guarantees every person the right to a clean and healthy environment.
Mamo, however, cautioned that citizens should not focus solely on their environmental rights while neglecting their responsibilities.
“As we speak about our rights, we always forget about our responsibility as citizens of this country to enhance the quality of our environment for current and future generations,” he said.
The remarks from the two senior officials underscore Kenya’s push to combine green investment, renewable energy, environmental conservation, and citizen participation in advancing the country’s sustainable development agenda.
The challenge, they noted, is now to turn commitments into action and ensure that Africa’s green transition delivers jobs, investment, resilient communities, and a healthier environment for future generations.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
