Kenya
Core analysis conducted and presented by Pauline Owiti and Zipporah Njenga of Kenya in October 2022.
Executive Summary
On youth inclusion, Kenya is rated as: poor.
On gender justice, Kenya is rated as: above average.
Kenya’s updated NDC commits to abate GHG emissions by 32 percent compared to the first NDC target of 30 percent by 2030 relative to the BAU scenario of 143 MtCO2eq. This NDC gives a new focus on committing to mobilize resources locally to meet 13 percent of the estimated implementation, requiring $62 Billion in international support to achieve the remaining 87%, unlike the first NDC, which was 100% reliant on international funding.
On youth, the inclusion in consultation or implementation of young people is not clearly outlined in Kenya's NDC even though young people been vibrant and active in organizing campaigns and raising public awareness on climate change, and generally involved in taking part in activities aimed at combating climate change and its effects countrywide.
On gender, in addressing climate change issues, public entities are required to undertake public awareness and consultations and ensure gender mainstreaming, in line with the Constitution and the Climate Change Bill (2014). As such policy and legal frameworks have been enacted to support gender equality and non-discrimination including in the Climate Policy and Climate Change Act (2016), National Climate Change Action Plan (2018-2022), and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s Technical Working Group (TWG) which facilitated gender analyses on the agriculture, water, and energy sectors to inform recommendations for strengthening NDC actions, including the development of gender-responsive indicators for tracking NDC implementation in the National MRV system. This has also facilitated increased collaboration and coordination between gender focal points of ministries and increased participation of the National Gender and Equality Commission. Additionally, Kenya’s NAP has a focus on “Gender, Vulnerable Groups, and Youth,” outlining the government’s commitment to achieving gender equity in all aspects of society and in addressing climate change.
Top recommendations for enhancing intergenerational justice:
A legal youth leadership framework mandated to address youth issues in climate governance and response that is free of influence and modification of its actions from other actors should be established.
Climate finance tracking and reporting should be a major NDC sector as without funding, Kenya will not be able to meet its NDC target, forcing future generations to manage the challenges of climate change.
Top recommendations for enhancing gender justice:
The Ministries in charge of youth, gender and climate change should facilitate the establishment of a Gender and Climate Change Coordination Platform to coordinate and promote gender in climate change actions.
The National Gender and Equality Commission should develop comprehensive reporting guidelines for use by state and non-state actors.
Quick Links:
Kenya’s Updated NDC (June 2022)
NDC Ambassador and professional agronomist Pauline Owiti specializes in community development. She is the founder of a community-based project that trains the locals in organic farming and reforestation techniques that are sustainable. She has a long history of championing ocean conservation and efforts to combat climate change at both the national and international levels. She served as the national coordinator for the United Nations Conference of Young, organized events at Mock COP26, and is currently a part of the Stockholm +50 youth task group for UNEP MGCY. She is passionate about ocean conservation. She was Parvati Foundation's Project Lead for Kenya on a campaign to designate the Arctic Ocean as a Marine Protected Area, served on the World Economic Forum's Friends of Ocean Action Ocean Health Youth Council in 2021, and is currently a Youth Policy Advisor at the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. She has In 2021, she was named a Young Friend of the Planet. Her main goals are to create a sustainable, healthy world and an environment in which young people's opinions are considered during decision-making as part of participation and democracy.
NDC Ambassador Zipporah Njenga is the Focal Point Sub-Saharan Africa – Children and Youth Constituency for Sustainable Cities (CYCSC).