Communities in northern Kenya have been urged to invest proceeds earned from carbon credit trading in sustainable livelihood projects to improve their economic well-being.
Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project (NKRCP) Chairman Andrew Dakhole called on members of community conservancies to make prudent use of revenues generated through conservation activities under the carbon credit programme.
Dakhole said community conservancies in Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu and Laikipia counties have partnered with the Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) for the past 13 years, enabling local communities to earn substantial income from carbon credit trading.
He noted that the revenues have significantly improved livelihoods, with beneficiaries using the funds to pay school fees, establish small businesses and support other income-generating activities.
The chairman said the earnings are derived from protecting and restoring degraded grazing lands, efforts that have also contributed to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.
“We were not able to sell our carbon credits from January, but after thorough investigations and governance reforms, we have resumed trading in the carbon market,” Dakhole said.
He said the conservancies are currently undergoing a three-year transition to enable them to independently manage the carbon project, with NRT providing technical support and capacity building during the transition period.
Dakhole added that NRT had earlier this year initiated the transfer of governance of the carbon project to a community-owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), in line with Kenya’s carbon market legal framework. The corporate entity will independently oversee the management of the programme.
He said the transition follows amendments to the 2021 Project Implementation Agreement, giving conservancies’ full responsibility for managing carbon credit activities while ensuring compliance with the Climate Change (Amendment) Act, 2023, and the Carbon Market Regulations, 2024.
According to Dakhole, the conservancies will establish their own management board comprising representatives of all stakeholders, while each conservancy will hold consultative meetings to determine priority areas for utilization of the funds.
Community conservancies from the four counties recently shared Sh. 655 million in carbon credit revenues, with Isiolo receiving Sh. 258.8 million, Samburu 248.8 million, Laikipia Sh. 126.6 million and Marsabit Sh.30 million.
Northern Rangelands Trust Chief Operations Officer Osman Hussein presented the cheques to the beneficiary conservancies during a ceremony held in Isiolo town.
Hussein urged the conservancies to utilize the funds prudently by prioritizing environmental conservation, sustainable rangeland management and community development projects.
By David Nduro
