Kenya's 'green' vocation does not stop and indeed, with the acceleration of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change programmes and Joe Biden's return of the US to the Paris Convention on Climate Challenges, it is becoming one of the continent's strongest assets, also to drive and convince other nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
President Uhuru Kenyatta specifically presented the country's progress in developing renewable energy, and the use of technology to adapt to and mitigate climate change, confirming Kenya's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32% by 2030.
He did so by representing Africa at the virtual leaders' summit on climate change convened by US President Joe Biden, where the heads of state of Denmark, Israel, Norway, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates were also speakers.
It is no secret that Kenya has embarked on renewable energy: already 90% of the energy produced by Kenya comes from geothermal and wind power and is therefore clean energy. The goal is to become completely dependent on renewable energy.
As you may know, Kenya is a pioneer in geothermal energy in Africa and, in fact, ranks fifth globally," the President told the other leaders. "Our geothermal potential is over 10,000 MW. However, the amount currently exploited is less than 10%. This presents huge investment opportunities across the technology value chain."
Uhuru said Kenya's 310.25 MW Lake Turkana Wind Power is one of the largest such installations in Africa, adding that the country is actively harnessing the technology to serve clean energy to rural communities.
"To meet the energy needs of rural communities, my administration has been using digital technologies. Using an innovative 'pay-as-you-go' mobile money credit system, better known as 'Mkopa'," Kenyatta said in his report, "these communities have switched from paraffin to solar for lighting and to power appliances such as televisions and refrigerators."
President Kenyatta added that Kenya has instituted a plan to progressively provide clean household energy to most of its families who still rely heavily on coal for food.