NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 17 – NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 17 – Kenya has secured a landmark climate support package worth approximately $700,000 to assess the growing toll of climate change on communities, livelihoods and ecosystems across the country.
The funding, awarded through the Santiago Network on Loss and Damage, makes Kenya the first African nation and only the second country worldwide to access technical assistance under the global climate mechanism.
The support will finance a comprehensive assessment of climate-related loss and damage suffered across Kenya over the past decade, generating critical evidence on the economic, environmental and social costs of climate change.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa described the development as a breakthrough for both Kenya and Africa, saying it demonstrates increasing international recognition of the challenges facing vulnerable nations.
“Kenya’s voice must remain clear, firm, and solutions-driven, while commending our negotiators for their tireless efforts in representing both our nation and the broader Global South. I expressed my appreciation for their dedication, describing them as true foot soldiers advancing Kenya’s interests on the global stage,” she said.
For years, Kenya has grappled with recurring droughts, devastating floods and changing weather patterns that have displaced communities, damaged infrastructure and undermined food security.
The planned assessment is expected to provide policymakers with a clearer understanding of these impacts, helping shape future adaptation measures and resilience-building strategies.
Experts say reliable data on climate-related losses remains one of the biggest gaps facing developing countries seeking climate finance and support from international partners.
By securing the funding, Barasa said Kenya positions itself at the forefront of efforts to quantify climate impacts and strengthen evidence-based policymaking across the continent.
