Kenya is stepping up the drive to cement its status as a climate-resilient investment destination, with a fresh appeal for collaboration placing women, youth, and communities at the center of green growth.
The Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS) and KCB on Thursday, 2nd October opened its Annual Conference & Green Expo 2025 at Emara Ole Sereni Hotel, with more than 300 government, private sector, development agency, and academia delegates.
The two-day meeting is being held under the theme Kenya’s Climate-Resilient Innovation: A Gateway for Investment in Real Estate, Infrastructure, Heritage, Nature, and Tourism.
KGBS Chief Executive Officer Nasra Nanda said the goal is to move from talk to action. “We’re a network of doers,” she stated. “This conference is not just about conversations but about creating partnerships and launching initiatives that lead to real outcomes.”
She noted that announcements on financing models, cultural heritage projects, and international partnerships would be unveiled before the close of the meeting.
For Millicent Okello of UN Women, the green transition must also mean breaking barriers for women in construction and related sectors.
“Construction has always been seen as a male-dominated space, shaped by culture and access to finance. But women are ready to play a bigger role, not just as beneficiaries of finished projects, but as contractors, suppliers, and innovators,” she said.
UN Women is currently running a gender-responsive procurement program to help women-owned businesses compete fairly in the industry.
Financing remains a sticking point. Nanda revealed that KGBS has been pushing banks to create products tailored to green housing and women borrowers.
She cited the launch of Kenya’s first “eco-loan” by Absa as an example of the progress being made. “The private sector wants to see clear government commitments. Now that green building standards are being mainstreamed, investors feel confident to step in,” she added.
Government officials echoed this commitment. Senior Presidential Advisor Ibrahim Rashid Ahmed pointed to ongoing infrastructure works, including climate-resilient bridges and roads, as proof that policy is being put into practice. “All projects we undertake must now be climate compliant,” he said.
David Waitito, Chief Architect at the State Department for Public Works, confirmed that new green building codes and standards are being rolled out to guide the sector.
The private sector is also under pressure to adapt. Hani Petro, General Manager at Mapei, a global construction chemicals company, said the industry must transition to sustainable materials.
“Green building shouldn’t be a choice, it should be the norm. Even construction chemicals must be sustainable,” he said, noting that the company offsets carbon emissions through credits and reforestation initiatives.
KCB’s Managing Director Annastacia Mutai captured the urgency of the moment. “Kenya stands at a crossroads. We can either see climate change as a constraint on growth or as an opportunity to reimagine our future,” she said, warning that closing the Sh180 billion financing gap will require collaboration across government, private sector, and communities.
The Expo has six themed pavilions, from green finance and sustainable building to youth and community innovations.
By the end of the week, organizers expect to have rallied new investment and partnerships to accelerate Kenya’s transition towards climate-smart, inclusive urban development.
“It has been possible for us to demonstrate leadership of the Global South,” said Nanda. “Now the test is to see that this leadership results in strong resilient communities and a lasting legacy for generations to come.
