Kenya Establishes National Carbon Registry for Climate Action

The government of Kenya has launched the Kenya National Carbon Registry (KNCR), a digital platform designed to manage and track carbon market activities. The launch signifies a major step in strengthening the country’s climate governance and preparing for participation in international carbon markets.

The launch event, held in Nairobi, included remarks from government officials, development partners, and representatives of Kenya’s carbon market ecosystem.

The Kenya National Carbon Registry

The KNCR serves as Kenya’s sovereign digital platform for registering, tracking, authorizing, and reporting carbon market activities. It is intended to ensure environmental integrity, prevent double counting, and align carbon market transactions with Kenya’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa, described the Registry as “the digital heartbeat of Kenya’s green economy.”

Legal and Regulatory Framework

Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Festus Ng’eno, emphasized that Kenya’s carbon credits are sovereign assets protected under Kenyan law. The Registry is intended to bring the Climate Change Act and Carbon Markets Regulations to life. Recent regulatory milestones supporting the launch include 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.

Development and 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. Development 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.

International Perspectives

EU Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, highlighted the potential for Kenya to develop carbon credits as a premium export product, moving beyond traditional agricultural exports. She emphasized the importance of a functioning national carbon registry for transparency, preventing double counting, and ensuring compliance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Germany reaffirmed its support for Kenya’s climate ambition, noting Kenya’s progress in operationalizing carbon markets and its commitment to building a green economy.

Technical Implementation and Readiness

Verst Carbon led the technical implementation of the KNCR, working closely with national institutions. Ian Mutai, Chief Technology Officer at Verst Carbon, stated that the launch marks a transition to national operationalization. The Registry underwent stakeholder consultations, user acceptance testing, and institutional validation prior to launch.

Future Outlook

With the launch of the KNCR, Kenya aims to advance bilateral carbon cooperation agreements and deepen participation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The registry is intended to position Kenya as a credible and transparent partner in the global green economy, strengthening national oversight and setting a benchmark for carbon market governance.