Parliamentarians unite for a greener Kenya

Last week, as part of the Parliamentarians for Climate Finance initiative, Climate Parliament and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) held a workshop focused on the role of parliamentarians in shaping Kenya’s energy future. The event was organised with support from the Green Climate Fund and Kenya’s Parliamentary Caucus on Climate Change, led by Senator Kajwang and Hon. Charity Kathambi.

Legislators from the National Assembly, the Senate, and the East African Legislative Assembly joined technical experts and development partners to explore how to strengthen collaboration in advancing Kenya’s renewable energy transition.

Policy, innovation, and green financing

Ms. Lynette Luvai, Deputy Representative of UNIDO to Kenya, delivered a keynote address highlighting opportunities for green industrialisation. She emphasised innovation, strategic partnerships, and increased investment as critical drivers for green finance.

Engineer Kiva Isaac, Secretary Renewable Energy, from the Ministry of Energy of Energy and Petroleum discussed the role of legislators in addressing policy gaps and shaping opportunities within the Draft Kenya Energy Plan 2025–2034. Micheal Nyongesa from Forum CIV stressed the importance of aligning policy and investment to scale up renewable energy solutions.

Parliamentary leadership in climate action

MPs discussed the urgent need for capacity building among legislators on climate change and renewable energy. They called for stronger parliamentary involvement in policy development, implementation, and oversight.

The discussion also highlighted the critical role of women in Kenya’s energy transition, particularly around clean cooking solutions. Legislators were encouraged to champion this agenda during the upcoming Kenya Clean Cooking Week in Kilifi County.

Senator Hamida Kibwana spoke on the importance of raising awareness at the community level about climate change and the just energy transition. Hon. Julius Mawathe called on MPs to prioritise climate finance mechanisms for Special Economic Zones, enhance regulatory and policy frameworks, and unlock climate finance for underserved communities.

As Kenya increases its ambition on energy access and climate resilience, Hon. Esther Passaris reminded participants that parliamentarians are not only policymakers but also key enablers of transformative change.

We are grateful to all the leaders advancing bold climate action through policy, oversight, and advocacy. More details on outcomes and next steps will be shared as the programme progresses.