Kenya Breaks Ground on World’s First Green Garment Factory Made from Recycled Containers

Clive Ayuko

May 20, 2024, Athi River, Kenya

The world’s first green industrial garment factory, constructed from upcycled containers, has begun construction in Athi River EPZ. This pioneering project, backed by a $530,000 investment from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and a $1.3 million loan from Trade Catalyst Africa (TCA), represents a significant step forward in sustainable manufacturing.

Spanning 5,000 square meters, the new green textile center is designed to be a model of sustainability, utilizing solar energy and rainwater harvesting systems. Expected to be completed by December 2024, the factory aims to save an estimated 18 tons of CO2 annually and conserve 1,000 cubic meters of water each year, demonstrating the potential for eco-friendly industrial practices.

The project is a collaboration with Modular Real Estate EPZ Limited (MODULAR), a subsidiary of Container Technology Limited (CONTECH). Duncan Onyango, CEO of Trade Catalyst Africa, emphasized the transformative impact of this initiative: “This investment symbolizes our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable industrial development. By pioneering this unique industrial space, we are setting a new standard for the garment industry and positioning Kenya and Africa as leaders in sustainable manufacturing.”

The global textiles market, valued at approximately $1.5 trillion in 2020, is poised for significant growth. This initiative will place Kenya at the forefront of this expansion, promoting eco-friendly manufacturing practices and enhancing the country’s competitiveness. It is expected to create numerous jobs, particularly for women, boosting Kenya’s export potential and driving economic growth.

Naeem Pasta, CEO of Modular Real Estate EPZ, highlighted the innovative nature of the project: “This project demonstrates that innovative thinking and environmental responsibility can coexist, leading to economic growth and a healthier planet. We are proud to be part of this pioneering effort.”

Significance for Kenya

The green garment and textile center represents a crucial advancement for Kenya’s industrial sector, aligning with the country’s vision of becoming a newly industrialized, middle-income nation. By adopting sustainable practices, Kenya aims to enhance its competitiveness in the global market. The new facility will provide training opportunities and create jobs, particularly benefiting women, thereby empowering local communities and reducing poverty. By setting a precedent for green industrial practices, Kenya can serve as a model for other nations pursuing sustainable development.

Net-zero target is within reach if pursued deliberately

Opinion Editorial

By Marius van der Ham

As of 2022, air travel carbon emissions reached an estimated 800 Mt or 2% of the global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. And while this was approximately 80% of the pre-pandemic levels, increasing demand for aviation services – projected to grow at between 2% and 5% by 2050 – will ultimately drive up the quantity of carbon emissions generated by the airline industry.

However, this adverse trajectory can be averted. By ramping up innovative aircraft technologies, “streamlining” flight operations and increasing the production and use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), airlines can reduce the generation of carbon emissions by the quantities required to achieve Net Zero earlier than the 2050 target.

At Air France, we have taken the prerogative to accelerate our impact in this regard. For instance, we are continually upgrading our fleets to modern technologies, which generate much lower emissions. As of 2025, we will have added 38 Airbus A350s to our long-haul fleet and 60 Airbus A220s on our short and medium-haul fleet, replacing the A318 and A319 fleets. The new-generation aircraft produce 20% to 25% less carbon emissions, and their noise footprint has been reduced by a significant 40%. They also consume significantly lesser fuel. The aircraft on our fleet currently consume an average of 3.3 litres per passenger/100km.  In comparison, the A350 consumes nearly 25% less at 2.5 litres per passenger/100km. This is as the A220 expends 2.6 litres per passenger/100km, thanks to the incorporation of close to 40% lighter materials (lithium aluminium and composite materials) in its construction.

Yet flight renewal is only part of our multi-pronged strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of our airline. We are also pioneering the transition to SAFs, which will be the main lever for decarbonising air transport in coming years. Produced from non-fossil fuel sources, the SAFs selected by Air France reduce carbon emissions by at least 75% over the entire life cycle, and can be used today without any modification to aircraft and flight operations. As part of the supportive ecosystem, we have engaged our customers to support the accelerated adoption of SAFs through a subscription option that allows them to voluntarily contribute during ticketing a fee to facilitate the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) in our flights, including cargo hauls. Customers are free to choose their level of investment, with a guarantee that their contribution will be exclusively used to purchase SAFs, cleaner alternatives to conventional jet fuel.

Meanwhile, we also run arrangements that favor low-carbon alternatives on shorter journeys, and more energy-efficient flights on longer journeys, helping our customers to minimise the overall carbon footprint of their trips. For example, in France, we have over the last 25 years offered a service that allows our customers to combine train and air travel in the same reservation, with guaranteed connections. This ‘intermodiality’ option is popular with customers travelling to and from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and the Paris-Orly airports, with more than 160,000 travellers using it every year.

Finally, from an operational standpoint, we are implementing eco-piloting techniques that significantly reduce aircraft fuel consumption. For instance, our pilots are trained to use single-engine taxiing, saving up to 700kg of fuel per departure and arrival for the Airbus A350. They also leverage AI-powered tools to optimize flight trajectories for fuel efficiency. Moreover, pilots can use bridge electricity instead of the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit (APU) before engine start-up, further reducing fuel usage.

All the aforementioned efforts align with Air France’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility through prudent energy management and deliberate emissions reduction. By implementing innovative aircraft technologies, including the adoption of fuel-efficient aircraft, and investing in alternative fuels, as well as business practices that are considerate of our energy usage and waste production, Air France continues to set a benchmark for the aviation industry. 

The writer is the General Manager for East, Southern, Nigeria, and Ghana at Air France-KLM.

Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) Joins Prestigious Global Conservation Body, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

MKWC’s Membership Signals a Significant Step Towards Global Collaboration in Wildlife Preservation

Nanyuki, April 8th, 2024 – In a momentous stride towards bolstering global conservation efforts, Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) proudly announces its membership in the esteemed International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This strategic alliance underscores MKWC’s unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation, particularly its dedicated efforts in safeguarding the critically endangered Mountain Bongo.

The announcement, made during a landmark event at the foot of the majestic Mount Kenya, marks a watershed moment in MKWC’s journey as it prepares to commemorate its 20th anniversary in 2024. Dr. Robert Aruho, Head of Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, hailed the membership as a pivotal milestone, emphasizing its potential to amplify the impact of MKWC’s conservation initiatives on a global scale.

“Our work, particularly the Mountain Bongo project, has demonstrated the power of focused, science-driven conservation initiatives. This membership is not just a recognition of our past efforts but a gateway to further the impact of our work on a global scale,” remarked Dr. Aruho.

Through its affiliation with IUCN, MKWC aims to harness the organization’s vast network and expertise to implement more effective conservation strategies, engage in influential policy dialogues, and contribute to global conservation objectives. Nyawira Kariuki, Chair of the MKWC Board of Trustees, expressed her enthusiasm for the membership, highlighting its potential to elevate MKWC’s role in the international conservation dialogue.

“Through our membership to IUCN, we shall bring our unique insights and experiences from Kenya to the global conservation dialogue, contributing significantly to the international efforts in wildlife preservation. This is an important milestone for us as it bolsters our commitment to protecting endangered species and their ecosystems, and more specifically, the Mountain Bongo,” noted Nyawira.

Mr. Innocent Kabenga, IUCN Kenya Country Representative and Regional Head of Land Systems, underscored the significance of MKWC’s membership, emphasizing its potential to facilitate global collaboration and access to credible scientific knowledge in wildlife conservation.

Founded in 1948, IUCN serves as the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures required to safeguard it. MKWC’s inclusion in this prestigious organization aligns with its broader agenda to amplify conservation efforts on a global scale, demonstrate alignment with the global conservation agenda, enhance collaborative endeavors, and gain access to a wide range of resources and expertise in wildlife protection.

As MKWC embarks on this new chapter of global collaboration, it remains steadfast in its mission to inspire present and future generations to preserve and protect nature’s beauty and wildlife. Through initiatives such as the Mountain Bongo breeding and rewilding program, the Animal Orphanage, and conservation education programs, MKWC continues to serve as a beacon of conservation in the heart of Kenya’s natural heritage.

USE DATA TO PROTECT, CONSERVE AND GROW BIODIVERSITY NUMBERS AFRICA URGED

By Clive Ayuko

Nairobi, Kenya 22nd March 2024

As the world continues to grapple with the negative effects of climate change occassioned to rises in global temperatures, the need to conserve biodiversity habits to ensure rise in biodiversity numbers has taken centre stage in the quest geared at keeping rising global temperatures rises at bay.

According to a 2022 report by the World Wildlife Fund christened the living  Planet Report, wildlife populations have declined by an average of 69% since the years 1970. An alarming statistic considering the importance derived from having such varied specie numbers. Consider for instance the importance of bees in ensuring cross pollination among plants and ensuring survival various plants species, or the importance of the now extinct dodo in ensuring the germination of certain tree species or the importance of marine environments fish and marine life in ensuring survival of the coral reefs which absorb carbon dioxide from the environment, the need to protect biodiversity is of utmost importance for the survival of humanity.
One way of ensuring  such conservation has been through initiatives involving management of conserved and protected areas through use of geospatial data.

Protected areas are managed for biodiversity conservation by providing a habitat and protection from hunting for threatened and endangered species. And may take various forms to include through social norms as sacred sites, military protected area or legally sanctioned protected area under international conventions or local laws.

It is in line with this goal that the Regional Centre for Mapping Resources for Development in Conjunction with the Biopama Regional Resource Hub For Eastern and South Africa in Conjunction with the implementing partners to include the European Union, European Commission and the IUCN organized a 5 day training workshop from 18th March to 22 March 2024  dubbed the Biopama Regional Resource Hub on Protected and Conserved Areas Data workshop at the Regional Centre for Mapping Resources for Development RCMRD in Kasarani Nairobi to train various stakeholders on the use of data in the management of protected and conserved areas
Speaking during the closing ceremony Cabinet Secretary heading the Ministry of Environment Ms Soipan Tuya
adding her voice in raising concern said;”Our protected areas, including forests and biodiversity, are currently under threat due to a lack of quality data to inform decisions. She continued to add;  “The center will provide valuable insights by providing vital mapped data on natural resources to informed policy decisions and climate-responsive actions.”

World Vision Initiative Regreening Africa Honored as UN World Restoration Flagship, Secures UN Support for Large-Scale Restoration

Nairobi, Kenya – The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have named Regreening Africa Initiative among other six initiatives as United Nations World Restoration Flagships, making the initiative eligible for technical and financial support from the UN. The announcement comes ahead of the 6th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), the world’s highest-level decision-making body for matters related to the environment, taking place from February 26^th, 2024 – March 1^st, 2024. 

The World Restoration Flagship awards are part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration – led by UNEP and FAO – which aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. The awards track notable initiatives that support global commitments to restore one billion hectares.

Regreening Africa is lauded as one of the “world’s most successful examples of healing the planet” in large-scale and long-term models of ecosystem restoration, embodying the 10 Restoration Principles of the UN Decade. In Kenya, the Regreening Africa initiative was implemented between 2017 and 2023, engaging with more than 50,000 households (10,000 smallholders directly and another 40,000 through leveraging partner projects) and bringing over 150,000 hectares under restoration using the revolutionary technique to tackle both poverty and climate change, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR).

FMNR is a low-cost approach that is up to 36 times cheaper than planting a tree and can be replicated across different communities, for as little as 50 USD per hectare. It is a quick and easy process for degraded land restoration which involves regenerating trees from stumps that are still alive or managing new trees growing from wild seedlings through pruning.

World Vision Kenya National Director Gilbert Kamanga said, “We gratefully embrace this esteemed recognition from the United Nations. Standing on the shoulders of the children and communities we serve; we pledge unwavering dedication to the relentless battle against climate change – a crisis of unparalleled magnitude in our era. Our resolve is firm: No effort shall be spared to safeguard Mother Nature for the successors of tomorrow.”

World Vision Kenya and World Agroforestry (ICRAF) implemented the Regreening Africa initiative, in collaboration with the Government of Kenya, and a diverse range of stakeholders in Lambwe Valley in Homa Bay County and Nyatike in Migori County to catalyse land restoration, helping communities in Homa Bay and Migori Counties to conserve their environment through soil and water conservation and reverse land degradation by encouraging smallholder farmers to grow trees in their farms and revive existing ones. The trees help to increase crop yields and boost livestock production. Consequently, they help cushion communities from the adverse effects of climate change such as droughts and floods. The approach was based on proven agroforestry techniques that were adapted to suit the needs of farmers under varying socio-ecological contexts.

The European Union granted 18 million Euros for the first phase of Regreening Africa which was carried out from September 2017 to March 2023 across eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa. World Vision led the implementation of Regreening Africa in Kenya, Rwanda, Somaliland, Senegal, Ghana, and Niger and supported in Ethiopia and Mali.

Looking forward, Regreening Africa aims to bring five million hectares under restoration by 2030, in collaboration with local communities across Kenya, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Silence is violence: Faith communities urged to strongly condemn fossil fuel extraction as GreenFaith launches Africa office

Nairobi, Kenya 30th January 2024

Africa has been called upon to speak in the strongest terms possible against fossil fuels and extractive industry because of the evident human rights violations, family displacements, cultural interference, and the impacts on the environment associated with the said industries.

Speaking during the launch of the GreenFaith-Africa office in Nairobi, Meryne Warah, the GreenFaith Global Director for Advocacy, drew the attention of the multi-faith gathering at the All African Council of Churches (AACC) premises in Nairobi to the destruction the fossil fuels industry had caused people in Africa.

“We have enough renewable natural capital that can be harnessed to provide energy in Africa while at the same time living harmoniously with biodiversity,” said Ms Warah, adding that the faith communities were best placed to speak truth to powers that make decisions allowing foreign companies to destroy Africa’s beauty, environment and biodiversity through the oil and extractive industry.

The meeting was attended by representatives of indigenous communities, women and youth from several parts of Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, Congo, Tanzania, Uganda and the DRC. There were also faith leaders from the Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and other communities.

Several teams presented videos showing the effects of fossil fuels in their communities. Tanzania and Uganda shared videos of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) affected persons, many complaining about poor compensation for land taken and disrespect for their kin’s graves during displacement, among other ills. Nigeria had evidence of oil spills and gas flaring in Port Harcourt, in the Niger Delta, which has polluted rivers and the soil, killing the farming and fishing communities’ sources of livelihood, and increasing cases of respiratory and other diseases.

Reacting to the videos, Rev. Dr Gibson Lesmore, the Director of Programs at the AACC, said: “We, as human beings, have a moral duty to preserve the embodiment of God in humanity, and that is by protecting our habitats.”

He rebuked efforts to sustain fossil fuels proliferation by playing with the language, especially at the global climate talks. “They are now talking of phase-down when we need a phase-out. The oil exploration in Africa is aided by insiders. We know the insiders, but we are not telling them the truth. Let us be united to speak truth to power around issues of climate change because these are matters of life and death. Silence is violence,” he said.

He called for more attention to the solutions different African and indigenous communities offered. “Listen to African indigenous knowledge and nature-based solutions, even in the face of development and technological advancement,” he said, adding that the global North’s efforts to dangle the carbon market when they had refused to honor the $100 billion climate fund pledge was pretentious. “Faith communities are our only hope. We must not politicize issues of climate change. Capitalism places its efforts on profits against human well-being. Matters of climate change are matters of life and death. No hypocrisy. No deceit. No lie,” he said.

GreenFaith Executive Director Rev. Fletcher Harper said: “Africa is on the frontline of the climate crisis. Global North corporations want to exploit the continent’s resources and addict Africa to fossil fuels. This is patently immoral. Our GreenFaith Africa team is campaigning for clean, safe, affordable, reliable energy for every African. We’re calling for millions of green jobs to lift people from poverty. We demand an immediate stop to new fossil fuel projects and loss and damage funds for those who have suffered permanent losses from climate change. Our faiths require nothing less.”

Hindu council of Kenya’s Sujarta Kotamraju urged participants to strengthen the link between spirituality and ecology. “Our differences in faiths must not enable destruction of mother earth, especially through fossil fuels extraction,” she said, adding that faith has a role to play in driving climate justice.

Elija Toirai, a representative of the indigenous community, said: “We must flow with nature in everything we do. The values we teach our children should encourage conservation. Indigenous people know climate change destroys their spaces. Certain cultural and ceremonial activities do not happen anymore, or their frequencies have reduced because climate change has messed up some of the sacred places where they used to happen”.

He said indigenous people bring historical and indigenous knowledge that helps deal with climate change, calling for more inclusion is solution finding. He thanked GreenFaith for strategically working with faith and indigenous communities as equal partners.

Ms Warah added: “When talking about Loss and Damage, it also means losing your identity. The indigenous communities have lost their identities. This is not something you can ever get back, even with the Loss and Damage fund”.

Sabina Chege, the Kenya Women of Faith Secretary, said women were disproportionately affected by climate change, and needed to be more economically empowered to offer solutions. “Women must be involved more in the fight for climate justice.”

Ezekiel Chibeze, the Executive Director of Strategic Youth Network for Development Executive Coordinator from Ghana, said youth have a role to play in climate education. “We are pushing advocacy and showing that young people have a solution to bring to the table. We are championing green ideas and jobs by turning organic waste into fuel for the stoves and also having young farmers in agroecology to deal with food security and enable the agriculture sector to employ more people. We have to do our job now. In the next 30 years, we will have a new crop of young people. We must nurture them now.”

Salim Bayani, a Muslim faith leader, said: “We were born with the responsibility of taking care of the environment. Nothing that is on this earth has not come through the Bible or the Quran, or other holy books”.

GreenFaith-Africa is now in 12 African countries. It brings together Christians, Muslims, those with traditional African beliefs, Hindus, and others for climate justice. It works with grassroots people of faith to stop new fossil fuel projects, and to call for universal access to clean energy and green jobs that can lift communities to a better future. Currently, GreenFaith is campaigning to stop the EACOP and has sustained momentum against any new oil and gas expansion or project.

AfriCatalyst calls for establishment of an African Methane Abatement Bond framework to finance methane action

Dakar, 19^th January – AfriCatalyst, a leading Dakar-based global development advisory group, has urged African leaders to develop a framework for issuing African Methane Abatement Bonds (AMAB). This urgent appeal accompanied the launch of AfriCatalyst’s groundbreaking report that sheds lights on the alarming surge in methane emissions across the continent and emphasizes the need for immediate global action to mobilize the resources needed to address this environmental crisis.

The report reveals that methane emissions in Africa have risen at an annual rate of 2 percent from 1990 to 2022, contributing a staggering 14 percent to the total global methane emissions. Notably, 19 African countries are responsible for 80 percent of the continent’s methane emissions, with Nigeria, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Egypt contributing half of the total. These emissions predominantly emanate from the agricultural sector (51%), energy production (35%), and waste management (14%).

While almost all African nations have outlined their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the lack of adequate financing impedes achievement of these goals. Only 2 percent of global climate financing was allocated towards methane abatement last year, and sub-Saharan Africa received a mere 6 percent of global methane financing.

In the report, AfriCatalyst has identified several avenues for boosting domestic and external financing for methane action in Africa. Its launch follows a high-level panel session held by AfriCatalyst in November, 2023, under the theme “Financing Methane Action in Africa.”

“Financing methane action faces a number of challenges. The first relates to the limited awareness on methane abatement in Africa and how to finance methane abatement efforts across the continent. There is strong evidence that if we do have ambitious methane abatement objectives in Africa, certainly we will be able to make the continent meet its commitments under the Paris Accord,” remarked Daouda Sembene, AfriCatalyst’s CEO, and co-author of the report.

According to AfriCatalyst, a collaborative effort by the 19 top African methane emitters could unlock additional funding by leveraging available financing from various partners, including European Union (EU) grants which could total nearly 6.4 billion Euros under the Neighborhood, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI). Such financial support could be complemented by technical assistance from reputable institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank.

Recognizing that additional financing alone will not suffice, AfriCatalyst is also calling for innovative solutions aligned with the continent’s realities and specific circumstances. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the required spending needs for low-income and middle-income countries amounts to $6.8 billion, while the continent needs $15-20 billion to reduce energy-related methane emissions by 75% by 2030. Innovative strategies, including increased domestic revenue mobilization, leveraging philanthropic funds, and recycling Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) through multilateral development banks like the African Development Bank (AfDB), could fill the gap.

“Africa is the least risky region to do investment – the default rate for financed projects is only 5.5%, the lowest in the world,” Abdoul Salam Bello, Executive Director for the Africa Group II, at the World Bank Group, observed during the webinar in November. “We need to change the narrative of risk by harnessing digital technologies, exploring concessional funding, and establishing a one-stop shop for all investing instruments.”

Dr. Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, Division Manager, Climate and Green Growth Development at African Development Bank Group, further added, “Last year (2022), the African Development Bank allocated 45% of its budget financing to climate action, and we are committed to meeting the Paris Agreement targets by 2025 through applying greenhouse gas accounting tools to estimate methane emissions reduction from each of our projects.”

In its report, AfriCatalyst envisions the issuance of African Methane Abatement Bonds (AMAB) as a pivotal step towards mobilizing innovative financing to support the formulation and implementation of methane abatement measures outlined in countries’ national plans.

The AMAB framework would also create a private investment vehicle to support African Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in developing practices that contribute to methane emission reduction.

Kenya Mining Sector Lobby Sends Letter To Head of State

Nairobi, Kenya 31st December 2023

The Kenya National Chamber of Mines early today morning in a letter addressed to His Excellency President and Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defense Forces Dr William Samoe Ruto outlined the potential of the Kenya Mines industry and expressed commitment by the industry to spur growth in the sector and increase the contribution to Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product GDP in line with the ruling regimes bottom Up economic transformation agenda. Here is a copy of the letter to his excellency the president by President of the Kenya Chamber of Mines Dr. Kanyoro Patrick

Attn: H.E Dr. William Ruto, C.G.H. President of the Republic of Kenya
Commander-in-Chief of Kenya Defense Forces
Your Excellency,
The Kenya Chamber of Mines (KCM) is the authoritative body in Kenya representing the interests of miners, exploration companies, mineral dealers, mineral processors, suppliers and professionals in Kenya. Established in the year 2000, KCM serves the artisanal and small scale miners as well as the large scale operators across Kenya. KCM currently is the voice of nearly one million stakeholders, engaged at various levels across Kenya’s mineral sector value chain.
KCM is deeply proud of the contribution our members and all actors across Kenya’s mineral value chain have made in developing Kenya’s nascent mining industry as it evolves into a robust ecosystem. At the least, KCM remains focused on working with the Kenya Kwanza administration to demystify mining as an economic activity. Over the last decade, the mining industry has unfortunately only managed a meagre average of 0.7% to Kenya’s GDP, despite its latent potential. Kenya boasts a strategic geological and geographic location as well as an unparalleled endowment with well trained, skilled and innovative manpower. As an industry, we are certain that we can drive our sector’s contribution to 10% to Kenya’s GDP; more than USD 10 billion well before year 2030. We are the sector that offers the promise for employment and wealth creation at the least cost to the exchequer, across Kenya. Mining as an economic activity has the capacity to create well over two (2) million jobs besides the obvious benefit to contributing towards Kenya’s industrialization.
1

Excellency, as the Chairperson and Coordinator of the Committee of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) you are well aware of the ravages climate change is wrecking on our economy and communities. Climate change has aggressively and unrelentingly battered Kenya’s core sectors; agriculture and tourism. This has adversely impacted our export earning capacity, cost and standards of living, unabated inflationary tendencies and acute foreign currency shortages. The mining sector without a doubt offers brilliant counter measures to support rural livelihoods, Kenya’s current account and economic outlook. The mineral value chain’s climate dependence is minimal plus the commodity prices in green minerals such as; lithium, graphite, copper, cobalt, nickel, etc. continue to skyrocket, buoyed by soaring global demand for a decarbonized world; batteries to power homes, electric vehicles and tech devises as the world moves to a greener net zero future. Kenya can and should be part of this green mineral revolution; now not tomorrow.
Excellency Sir, despite Kenya’s well endowed geology and a hardworking populace, the sector has been dogged and held back by lack of information to the citizenry on the opportunities that exist now and in the future. Mining as an economic activity was very key cog in the colonial economy, yet independent Kenya has not enjoyed the obvious benefits that accrue from this God given opportunity. The much touted Mining Act 2016 that replaced the colonial relic referred to as the Mining Act 1940 gave a ray of hope that is yet to delivered the benefits to the citizenry. The decision by the Cabinet for a partial lifting of the moratorium in October 2023 was a sigh of relief to the industry constricted since 2019. We further appreciate your patriotic and candid action of decriminalizing artisanal mining and by dint of the action by the cabinet formalizing the artisanal miners’ subsector. Your commitment to the sector is evident and the recent appointment of the Chairperson of the Mineral Rights Board is a step in the right direction. We appreciate the various actions by the State Department for Mining (SDM) geared towards reinvigorating the sector through a consultative approach by engaging all stakeholders. The approach and strategy by the State Department for Mining is spot on and with sustained open and inclusive consultations, we shall all without doubt bear much fruit in the year 2024 and beyond. With all hands on deck, it will be feasible to have the mining sector contribute at least 10% to Kenya’s gross domestic product well before 2030.
The decision to lift the moratorium and have the Mineral Rights Board commence operations will go a long way in having the applications for the various mineral rights considered, within reasonable time. It is the efficient and timely issuance of prospecting and mining licenses and permits that will attract both direct domestic and foreign investors and transform the sector. Kenya as a nation deserves a seat at the table of countries that leverage on its natural resources for the current and future generations. We must work together on creating a balance between people, profits and the planet. The industry appreciates the decision by the Cabinet to have some minerals now enlisted as strategic. This is a noble initiative that must be supported by all. As industry, we seek further engagements to ensure that the transition is seamless and does not discourage investments, especially for green garnet and copper. Industry players fully support the Kenya Kwanza administration policy on value addition as our finite resources must yield maximum benefits for citizens while delivering a fair return to the investors. Value addition, progressive and mineral specific, will unlock real employment and wealth creation opportunities.
Your Excellency, the exchequer without doubt needs enhanced and purposeful domestic resource mobilization, with appropriate import substitution strategies. As sector players, we are aware that the government is losing enormous revenue due to smuggling and this needs honest engagements with all stakeholders. The Artisanal and
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Small Scale Miners (ASMs) are in mining as a business for basic livelihood needs; food, school fees, clothing, shelter, medicare, etc. KCM leadership and membership fully support of the Bottom Up Transformation Agenda (BETA). Indeed, there could be no better sector to roll out the agenda; mining offers that platform. ASMs, especially those in gemstones and gold, will greatly benefit from joining cooperatives as they will have the opportunity to ride on economies of scale, both in production and marketing. Kenya has an opportunity to stand as a bastion of investment and economic progress by embracing the concept of madini jua kali. This will facilitate local communities mine and aggregate mineral ores that they can sell to mineral dealers and processors.
Your Excellency, we thank your government for extending respectable budgetary support to the State Department for Mining so as to facilitate the staff render service and reach out to the field. We yearn to see more geologists and mining engineers render technical support to the ASMs across villages in Kenya. This kind gesture will facilitate investments through exploration, mining, mineral dealership and processing by more Kenyans. And perhaps an independent authority or mineral council that will consist of captains of the mining industry and technocrats can leapfrog the sector to unprecedented levels, making it truly a growth sector. This country is blessed with resources and under your leadership, the nation has the opportunity to transform lives and livelihoods through responsible mining.
Finally, Your Excellency Sir, we count on your leadership to realize Kenya’s mineral potential and transform lives across Kenya: from Turkana to Taita Taveta, Kisumu to Kitui, Marsabit to Makueni, Kakamega to Kwale and across the breadth of this great nation. Our dream deferred for the last sixty years; we believe, can be a reality with servant leadership. KCM and stakeholders in the mining sector across Kenya remain open to engaging at all times. As you lead Kenya in 2024 and beyond, “plenty be founded within our boarders” as well take counsel from Deuteronomy 8: 7-10 “For the
you.”
God bless you. God bless Kenya. Yours sincerely,
Dr. Kanyoro Patrick
Chairman – Kenya Chamber of Mines

PARIS AGREEMENT FURTHER WEAKENED WITH COP28 NEGOTIATIONS ORGANIZATION NOW SAYS

Dubai, UAE. 11/12/2023

Our worst fears have come to pass.
The Dubai Climate Change Conference ends with a predictably failed crescendo, and once again, the UNFCCC multilateral process has proved a mirage for millions of vulnerable people in Africa and the world over, whose aspirations, desires and expectations have been dashed.
COP28 has missed the opportunity to put the world on track to deeply reduce greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the Paris Agreement target of keeping post-industrial revolution global mean temperature rise under 1.5 degrees Celsius at the turn of this century.
As we outlined during our initial and second press Conferences, we welcome the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund despite its “slap-on-the-face, peanut pledges”, but refuse to celebrate it since several issues – notably the extended timeframe to access the money – are yet to be resolved for the Fund to be of optimal use to communities at the frontline of climate change impacts.
Earlier this year, we warned that the outcome we are staring in the next couple of hours was inevitable after the host country, the United Arab Emirates (UEA) appointed an oil Executive, Sultan Al Jaber to preside over the negotiations. In addition to being indifferent, contentious and exhibiting don’t-care attitude which have been captured in the media, Sultan Al Jaber has undeniably become an enabler, and foreseen the participation of the historic number of big polluters, promoters of false climate solutions and anti-climate corporate interests.
We have reason to believe that the Parties have surrendered, and /or ceded the negotiations to climate profiteers, profaners of justice and entertained the influence of ill-intentioned individuals whose vision is to derail and retard the global transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient, inclusive and ecologically-just development pathways. The continuation of this trend will, no doubt, undermine the spirit of the UN

Climate Convention, and the Paris Agreement and irreparably damage the imperatives of climate justice, with dire consequences to people, society and economies in Africa, further South and North.
After following the debates and negotiations over the last two weeks, we feel disappointed, unsettled and hopeless. Critical issues relevant to Africa and the collective desire to tackle the climate crisis – especially adaptation, adaptation finance and Global Goal on Adaptation – remain marginal and contentious. Less than 24 hours before the closure of COP28, close to 70% of negotiation items remain open, thus demonstrating a lack of commitment and a sense of urgency to move the process towards positive outcomes.
We note:
▪ On the phasing-out of fossil fuels.
Phasing out fossil fuels, the single most significant action needed to limit the emissions of most greenhouse gases and reverse global warming looks like a muzzled conversation in COP28 despite evidence generated in the Global Stock Take Process. Business interests side-stepped the imperative of keeping the mean global temperatures rise below 1.5 degrees Celius and creating a resilient globe, especially for communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Beyond exploring further commercial interests through scaling renewables, which we obviously support, and paving the way for land and forest grabbing through bilateral deals ostensibly pursuant to carbon trading, Dubai will go into the annals of history as the COP which was equivocal in undermining rapid phaseout of fossil fuels – of course, aided by the oil-addicted President.
▪ Securing Adaptation Agenda
We lament the lack of a tangible outcome on the Global Goal on Adaptation and any strong commitments to “more than double” adaptation finance flows to Africa. COP28 generated a paltry $156 million in pledges for adaptation finance, compared to Billions of Dollars pledged for mitigation-centric initiatives. But this falls short of the pledges made in Glasgow to double adaptation finance to $40 billion annually.
Adaptation remains the single most important priority for Africa because of the disproportionate levels of vulnerabilities and adverse impacts on its populations and economies. The push for an aspirational Global Goal on Adaptation cannot be rationalized with a push for voluntary implementation of this goal, particularly with national-level leadership and without a strong commitment to global climate finance.
Furthermore, the decision to run a two-year program on the GGA, with yet another round of wasteful workshops, reveals a concerning lack of urgency in responding to communities that are in dire need of faster adaptation and resilience-building, local actions. It has become evident that developed countries are using delaying tactics to avoid fulfilling their commitment to provide the necessary climate funds for effective adaptation action.
▪ Climate Finance
We have repeatedly emphasized the importance of developed countries fulfilling their climate finance commitments. It should be noted that the current demands for climate finance are in billions of dollars annually, not just the previously pledged USD 100 billion, which OECD just indicated they have already

delivered – there is a difference between the money in Paper and what is tangibly felt and seen on the ground. Unfortunately, COP28 has not yet taken any significant action towards the Finance goal.
▪ Loss and Damage
We call for the application of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities to include securing sustainable replenishment for the Fund and responsive access mechanisms for communities at the frontline of the crisis.
We urge developed countries to be transparent and accountable in demonstrating their contributions to the loss and damage kitty, instead of simply repackaging existing climate financing and/or ODA in their climate pledges. We believe that the Loss and Damage Fund, important as it is, should not be used as a distraction from critical issues of negotiations. Rather, it should be utilized to stimulate developed Nations’ to take action in reducing emissions and increasing climate finance for adaptation.
▪ On Global Stock Take:
We were very clear in our call for action based on the evidence presented by the GST, which shows that global temperatures are reaching alarming levels and the gap in adaptation measures is widening. However, COP28 failed to use the scientific evidence generated by the UNFCCC to make progressive decisions.
We welcome the Just Transition Work Programme on the just transition pathway that paves the way for the design of a comprehensive programme. However, we insist on a transition that is sector-wide, graceful, fair, gender-responsive and equitable and that takes into account the socioeconomic and political realities of different regions, and nations, as well as the imperatives of climate justice. Just transition cannot be a super-highway for developed countries to unreasonably perpetuate and entrench their unfair economic and investment interests that have resulted in poverty, unemployment, mineral/resource conflicts, and more worse, bloodshed in Africa.
As we leave COP28, we want to reiterate our call for UNFCCC to take back control of the processes from the global oil cartels and purveyors of delays for action. These cartels are causing harm to the world and their commitment to taking restitutive actions and adapting to change remains questionable. Despite all the noise and grandstanding that took place over the last two weeks, there are only two actions that are critical to our survival: eliminating fossil fuels, deep emission cuts, particularly in industrialized countries with the largest emissions, and finding ways to help developing and vulnerable countries adapt and build resilience to the adverse effects of climate change.
We are dedicated to forging impactful alliances and partnerships to achieve climate justice in Africa and globally.

3 MORE KENYANS SUCCUMB TO EL NINO RAINS

By Clive Ayuko

Nairobi, Kenya 8th December 2023

The number of Kenyans who have perished since the El Nino rains started in Kenya now stands at 168 people. Making his 7th address as the government spokesperson since his appointment about two months ago government spokesperson Dr. Isaac Mwaura today afternoon at the National El Nino Disaster Response Command Centre at the Nyayo House in Nairobi revealed that in the last 24 hours 3 more Kenyans have succumbed to the El Nino rains. These three he said were swept by the floods in Tharaka Nithi, Nandi and Migori Counties

Dr. Mwaura continued to appeal to Kenyans to avoid flood prone areas, adding that the regions to include Western Kenya, the coastal, the Central Province, the South Eastern Rift Valley and Eastern Kenya strip.