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Kenya hosts national dialogue on Green Energy Zones and Corridors
- tania1413
- Jul 7
- 3 min read
Last week 2 to 4 July, our team in Kenya hosted a national-level event in the Green Investment Dialogue series, focused on advancing Green Energy Zones and Corridors to mobilise climate finance, attract green investment and support inclusive development. The event took place in Mombasa, bringing together parliamentarians, investors, county officials and climate finance experts.
Organised by the Climate Parliament, in partnership with UNIDO and with support from the Green Climate Fund, the dialogue is part of the Parliamentarians for Climate Finance project. The focus of the event moved beyond access and explored how clean energy can power productive value.
Energy that drives local economies
From clean cooking and cold storage to small-scale manufacturing, productive uses of energy (energy access that enables economic activity) are central to Kenya’s green transition.
Community Green Energy Zones (CGEZs) are locally driven initiatives that support households, small businesses and social services to produce and manage their own renewable energy. These zones reduce reliance on fossil fuels, expand energy access and improve community resilience.
Clean cooking remains a priority. It helps raise demand for electricity, which improves the bankability of CGEZs. It also has measurable impacts on women’s health, time and economic participation while reducing deforestation and indoor air pollution. “The energy transition is about emissions and time, health, income and opportunity for people living in places often overlooked by traditional investment,” said Sergio Missana, Secretary-General of the Climate Parliament.
Kenya’s existing Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial parks offer strategic opportunities to anchor Green Energy Zones. These sites can be upgraded with renewable energy, clean technologies and climate-resilient infrastructure. In parallel, distribution corridors across counties can enhance energy reliability, create economies of scale and connect clean power to centres of demand. A zonal and corridor-based approach also supports more efficient use of public funds for investment guarantees, reduces legislative bottlenecks and speeds up project implementation while aligning local development with national climate goals.
Parliamentarians play a key role in identifying barriers to clean energy scale-up, shaping supportive legislation, and ensuring resources are directed to areas with the greatest need and potential for impact.
Senator Hamida Ali Kibwana, Kenya Women Senators Association (KEWOSA), said:
"As a climate change champion, I strongly advocate for a gender-responsive approach to the green energy transition. A gender-blind shift risks excluding the very communities, especially grassroots women who are disproportionately affected by energy poverty. Clean energy solutions must be inclusive and accessible. Let us craft and champion energy policies that leave no one behind ensuring every Kenyan, regardless of gender or location, can benefit from the green economy."
Senator Tabitha Mutinda, Vice -Chair, Finance and Budget, Senate, said:
Proud to join fellow legislators, experts, and partners at the Kenya Parliamentary Green Investment Dialogue in Mombasa (2–4 July 2025). This critical forum reinforced the central role of Green Energy Zones and Corridors in driving Kenya’s clean energy future. Green Energy Corridors are not just about infrastructure - they are about people, equity, and sustainable growth.
As Parliamentarians, we rise to the moment. We have a duty to champion enabling legislation that accelerates green transition - through policy clarity, investment incentives, and cross-sector collaboration."
With planning and financing increasingly devolved, Kenya’s county governments play a vital role.The dialogue closed with an interactive workshop where MPs, investors and partners collaborated on concrete recommendations to support legislation, financing strategies and community-centred development models.
Hon Charles Kamuren, Vice Chair, National Assembly Committee on Environment, Forestry & Mining, said:
"Kenya cannot mine its future from the past. Our prosperity lies in protecting our forests, restoring degraded ecosystems, and investing in green corridors that power both people and nature. Parliament must be the engine of this transition - through bold legislation, stronger oversight, and support for county-led green investments."
The outcomes of this event will directly shape Kenya’s contributions to the broader Green Energy Zones and Corridors initiative, aligned with the COP29 Green Energy Pledge and a growing global shift toward low-carbon, inclusive economies.
