NAIROBI, Kenya- The Government on Tuesday launched the Kenya National Carbon Registry (KNCR), marking a significant milestone in strengthening the country’s climate governance framework and readiness to participate in international carbon markets.
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 is 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 the country’s shift from fragmented carbon activity to a unified, transparent, and accountable national system.
“For years, innovation thrived, but we lacked a single, trusted national ledger,” she said.
“Today, that changes: The National Carbon Registry is the title deed of Kenya’s emissions reductions.”
Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Festus Ng’eno, highlighted 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.
These reforms collectively provide the legal certainty needed for a fully operational and regulated carbon market ecosystem.
Partnership and Technical Support
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.
Development of the Registry 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.
EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger underscored 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 said, adding that “a functioning national carbon registry is the backbone of that integrity,” the Ambassador said.
“It ensures transparency in the issuance, tracking, and transfer of carbon credits, prevents double counting, strengthens compliance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and gives investors the necessary confidence.”
Germany also reaffirmed its support for Kenya’s climate ambition.
“Kenya has already made significant progress in operationalizing carbon markets, demonstrating leadership in the region and commitment to a green economy,” said Maren Kneller, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Germany in Nairobi.
“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.”
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.
Chief Technology Officer at Verst Carbon Ian Mutai 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 said.
He added that the KNCR has been developed, tested, and institutionally validated to ensure transparency and accountability are embedded at the core of Kenya’s carbon market ecosystem.
Prior to the 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 building carbon markets on integrity, accountability, and strong digital governance.
