Kenya advances Climate Innovation with green startup initiative supported by Ireland

This initiative comes as Kenya focuses on fostering climate-friendly enterprises for sustainable climate action. The discussion took place during an engagement on climate change innovations between the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) and the Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland in Nairobi.

Engineer Festus Ng'eno, representing the Kenyan government's State Department for Environment and Climate Change, participated in the event.

Through a competition called Climate Launchpad: Green Business Ideas Challenge, organized by the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), participants submit ideas for sustainability scrutiny.

According to KCIC's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Joseph Murabula, the centre seeks innovations that benefit the planet while supporting economic opportunities for long-term climate action.

"We support the green economy because we are a climate innovation center, the largest in Africa, with a focus on bolstering the climate entrepreneurship ecosystem not only in Kenya but across Africa."

At the conclusion of each Climate Launchpad competition, winners join the KCIC Green Peace Program where they receive technical assistance.

"We provide them with technical assistance, financing, business advisory, and mentorship to turn those ideas into businesses. Our relationship doesn't end after the competition stage; to ensure their success, we support them for a period of three years to establish sustainable commercial enterprises," said Murabula.

According to Irish Deputy Prime Minister Michéal Martin, Ireland's partnership with Kenya has progressed significantly. Ireland's Development Corporation programs have collaborated with Kenya on various projects, including agriculture, health, and education.

"Now, we are closely collaborating with Kenya on climate innovations. Kenya is crucial to Ireland for sharing ideas and learning opportunities. For instance, many ideas from Kenya regarding food security have been applied not only in Ireland but globally," remarked Martin.

After visiting green exhibitions at KCIC, Engineer Ng'eno acknowledged the potential for creating numerous green jobs in the country.

"We are at 93%. We take pride in Kenya's progress toward clean energy, targeting 100% by 2030. I believe we can achieve this milestone earlier, considering the promising initiatives I've seen here from various exhibitors," he commented.

In Kenya, the Climate Launchpad (CLP) program, implemented by KCIC since 2017, has generated 1,375 green business ideas. Kenyan teams have achieved success both regionally and globally in the competition.

The Green Business Idea competition aims to nurture green innovation and entrepreneurship in seven developing countries across Africa and Asia.