Kenya launches a national carbon registry
The digital platform will track every carbon credit project to prevent double counting and build trust with buyers.
Key points
- Kenya launched its National Carbon Registry on 17 February 2026, a sovereign digital platform to register, track, authorise and report carbon market activities.
- The launch was presided over by Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, with EU and German ambassadors present.
- The registry is designed to prevent double counting and align carbon trading with Kenya’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Kenya has launched a National Carbon Registry, a digital system to keep track of carbon credit projects in the country. The registry was launched on 17 February 2026.
What it does
The Kenya National Carbon Registry (KNCR) is the country's official platform for registering, tracking, authorising and reporting carbon market activities. That includes projects such as tree planting, clean cookstoves and renewable energy that generate carbon credits for sale.
It is designed to:
- prevent the same emissions cuts being counted twice;
- make carbon trading transparent and credible to international buyers;
- align trading with Kenya's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement;
- help ensure fair sharing of carbon revenues with communities.
Who was there
The launch was presided over by Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa, with ambassadors from the European Union and Germany. The technical system was built by Verst Carbon with national institutions.
Why it matters
Africa has huge potential in carbon markets, but concerns about weak oversight and poorly verified credits have held back prices and trust. A national registry is a key building block for Kenya to earn more from its forests and clean energy. It came a few months before Kenya hosted the Our Ocean Conference, another sign of its climate diplomacy.
Sources
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