Environment PS Festus Ngeno with Santiago Network representative Elizabeth Carabine during climate negotiations in Bonn on June 9, 2026.Kenya has scored a major victory in the global fight against climate change after becoming the first country in Africa and only the second in the world to secure technical assistance from the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage.
The breakthrough will see Kenya receive support valued at approximately $700,000 (about Sh90 million) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of climate-related loss and damage suffered across the country over the last decade.
The milestone was announced on the sidelines of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Subsidiary Bodies (SB64) Climate Meeting in Bonn, Germany.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the funding will enable Kenya to undertake a nationwide assessment aimed at documenting the impacts of climate change and generating evidence to guide policy decisions, planning and resource mobilisation.
The findings are expected to strengthen the country's ability to respond to climate-related challenges and build resilience against future environmental shocks.
The development was formally communicated to Principal Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Festus Ng’eno by Santiago Network representative Elizabeth Carabine during the ongoing climate negotiations in Bonn.
The achievement places Kenya at the forefront of climate action in Africa and highlights the country's growing influence in global climate discussions.
Dr Ng’eno was accompanied by National Environment Management Authority Director General Mamo Boru Mamo, NETFUND Chief Executive Officer Samson Toniok, Climate Change Directorate Director Dr Pacifica Ogola and other officials.
The latest recognition comes as Kenya continues to roll out ambitious climate mitigation and adaptation programmes aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening resilience.
In April 2025, Kenya submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the United Nations, committing to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 35 per cent by 2035, equivalent to avoiding 75.25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
The target is part of the country's broader vision of building a climate-resilient society where livelihoods, communities and ecosystems can thrive despite growing climate threats.
Kenya is also implementing the 15 Billion Trees Programme, a decade-long initiative running from 2022 to 2032 that seeks to restore 10.6 million hectares of degraded landscapes. The programme targets the planting of 4.5 billion trees by 2027 and 15 billion trees by 2032.
The government has further committed to a complete transition to clean energy by 2030, while the National Climate Change Action Plan III prioritises low-carbon energy and transport solutions.
In February 2026, Kenya launched the National Buildings and Construction Decarbonisation Roadmap 2026-2040, which aims to reduce emissions from the building sector by 67 per cent by 2040.
The latest support from the Santiago Network is expected to provide Kenya with critical data and evidence needed to strengthen climate policies and unlock additional resources for addressing the growing impacts of climate change.
