Kenya launches National Carbon Registry to boost climate governance

The launch, held in Nairobi, was presided over by Dr. Deborah Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, alongside senior government officials, development partners, and representatives from Kenya’s carbon market ecosystem. 

The KNCR serves as Kenya’s sovereign digital platform for registering, tracking, authorizing, and reporting carbon market activities. 

It provides the national digital infrastructure required to ensure environmental integrity, prevent double counting, and align carbon market transactions with Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. 

In her keynote address, Dr. Barasa described the Registry as “the digital heartbeat of Kenya’s green economy,” emphasizing that Kenya is moving from fragmented carbon activity to a unified, transparent, and accountable national system. 

“For years, innovation thrived, but we lacked a single, trusted national ledger. Today, that changes: The National Carbon Registry is the title deed of Kenya’s emissions reductions.” 

The Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Festus Ng’eno, underscored that Kenya’s carbon credits are sovereign assets protected under Kenyan law and anchored in the Climate Change Act and Carbon Markets Regulations. 

“The Registry is the heartbeat that makes the Climate Change Act and Regulations come alive,” he noted, adding that Kenya is building an export-oriented carbon industry anchored on integrity, private sector empowerment, and tangible local benefits. 

The launch builds on recent regulatory milestones, including amendments to the Climate Change Act (2016), the gazettement of the Carbon Markets Regulations (2024), and the establishment of the Designated National Authority (DNA) for carbon markets. Together, these reforms provide the legal certainty required for a fully operational and regulated carbon market ecosystem

The KNCR was developed through a partnership led by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), and the Climate Change Directorate, with support from international partners. 

The Registry development was supported by the European Union’s Data Governance in Africa Initiative and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ Kenya. 

Henriette Geiger, EU Ambassador to Kenya, emphasized the importance of a strong carbon markets system. 

“Kenya should develop carbon credits as a premium export product. This is the 21st century; we cannot rely only on tea, coffee and avocado for export income.” 

She further pointed out that “a functioning national carbon registry is the backbone of that integrity: It ensures transparency in the issuance, tracking, and transfer of carbon credits. It prevents double counting. It strengthens compliance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. And it gives investors the necessary confidence.” 

Germany also reaffirmed its continued support for Kenya’s climate ambition. 

“Kenya has already made significant progress in operationalizing carbon markets, demonstrating its leadership in the region and its commitment to building a green economy. The Federal German Government has been supporting Kenya in enhancing its climate ambition. One milestone of our cooperation was the development of Kenya’s new NDC 2031–2035. As one of the first NDCs in Africa, it was perceived as a strong signal of Kenya’s climate commitment,” said Maren Kneller, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Germany in Nairobi.

The Registry’s technical implementation was led by Verst Carbon, working closely with national institutions to design a system aligned with international standards while reflecting Kenya’s sovereign context. Speaking during the launch, Ian Mutai, Chief Technology Officer at Verst Carbon, emphasized that the Registry represents a fundamental shift in Kenya’s carbon market infrastructure. 

“Today’s launch is not just a ceremonial moment. It marks a clear transition from development to national operationalisation. Kenya’s carbon market is ultimately about outcomes: cleaner energy, healthier communities, restored landscapes, and investment that reaches the places it is meant to reach. Those outcomes depend on trust. Trust in the process, trust in the data, and trust in the decisions.” 

He noted that the KNCR has been developed, tested, and institutionally validated to ensure that transparency and accountability are embedded at the core of Kenya’s carbon market ecosystem.

Prior to launch, the KNCR underwent stakeholder consultations, user acceptance testing, and institutional validation to ensure readiness for live implementation. 

As Kenya advances bilateral carbon cooperation agreements and deepens participation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the KNCR positions the country as a credible and transparent partner in the global green economy. 

With the launch of the National Carbon Registry, Kenya strengthens national oversight, enhances transparency, and sets a new benchmark for how carbon markets can be built on integrity, accountability, and strong digital governance.