Govt to host African Green Investment Forum to unlock climate finance
By Sharon Atieno, June 12, 2026The government will host the African Green Investment Forum in October 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen climate financing and accelerate sustainable investments across the continent.
Speaking on Thursday, June 11, 2026, during the 2026/27 budget presentation, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said Kenya is scaling up its climate resilience agenda through a combination of legal, financial, and institutional reforms aimed at improving disaster preparedness and response.
“The government will host the African Green Investment Forum in October 2026. This forum will serve as a flagship continental initiative designed to mobilize substantial green finance, accelerate sustainable investments, and advance Africa’s leadership in this domain,” he said.
He noted that the government has continued to strengthen disaster risk management systems, including through the recently enacted National Disaster Risk Management Bill (National Assembly Bill No. 24 of 2023), which provides a legal framework for coordination of disaster response activities between national and county governments.
The law is expected to enhance coordination and support faster response mechanisms when disasters occur.
New financing strategy for climate risks
Mbadi said the National Treasury is developing a new disaster risk financing strategy for the 2026–2030 period, replacing the previous framework that ended in 2022.
“The earlier strategy for the period 2018 to 2022 came to an end, and we are now working on a new framework to strengthen preparedness and response to climate-related risks,” he said.
Locally led climate action
The Treasury is also continuing with the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action Programme (FLLoCA), which supports counties in implementing community-based climate adaptation projects.
Mbadi said the programme has helped unlock green investments at the county level and empowered local communities to respond to the effects of climate change.
Green investment push
To finance large-scale environmental projects, the government is establishing the Kenya Green Investment Facility in line with Kenya’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Mbadi further said the government is finalising a framework for issuing sustainability-linked bonds targeting key sectors such as forestry and rural electrification.
He added that Kenya has secured hosting rights for the Green Climate Fund Regional Office for East and Southern Africa in Nairobi, strengthening its position as a regional green finance hub.
The National Treasury is also at an advanced stage of accreditation as a Direct Access Entity to the Green Climate Fund, which will allow Kenya to access and manage more climate finance directly.
Continental climate finance platform
Mbadi said the upcoming African Green Investment Forum will serve as a flagship platform to mobilise green finance and advance Africa’s leadership in climate action.
“This forum will serve as a continental initiative designed to mobilise substantial green finance, accelerate sustainable investments, and advance Africa’s leadership in this domain,” he said.
The event is expected to bring together governments, investors, and development partners to support climate resilience and sustainable growth across Africa.