The Government of Kenya has officially launched the Kenya National Carbon Registry (KNCR) in Nairobi, marking a major milestone in strengthening transparency, trust, and integrity within the country’s growing carbon markets.
The high-level event brought together government officials, development partners, technical experts, and key carbon market stakeholders to witness the transition of the Registry from development phase to full national operationalization. The launch was presided over by Deborah M. Barasa, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, alongside Festus K. Ng’eno, Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, and Gitonga Mugambi, Principal Secretary for Forestry.
Also in attendance were Henriette Geiger, EU Ambassador to Kenya, Maren Kneller of the Embassy of Germany Nairobi, and leadership from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), including Board Chair Emilio Mugo and Director General Dr. Mamo Mamo.
Managed by NEMA, the Kenya National Carbon Registry is a digital platform designed to track, verify, and manage carbon credits and Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) generated from environmental projects across the country. The system will serve as Kenya’s official gateway to international carbon markets, ensuring accountability while safeguarding the nation’s sovereign carbon assets.
In his remarks, PS Dr. Ng’eno described the launch as a “critical step” in strengthening Kenya’s institutional readiness to effectively participate in global carbon markets. He emphasized that Kenya’s forests and clean energy resources are strategic sovereign assets and affirmed that Kenya’s carbon credits are protected under the law and Constitution.
With the KNCR now fully operational, Kenya positions itself as a credible and competitive player in the global green economy.
