Kenya has officially shifted from climate planning to implementation following the rollout of a national programme aimed at accelerating low-carbon, climate-resilient buildings across the country.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Kenya Green Building Society in collaboration with the State Department for Public Works, seeks to operationalize Kenya’s National Buildings and Construction Decarbonisation Roadmap launched in February 2026.
The programme, running from 2026 to 2028, is part of the global “Building the Transition Roadmaps” initiative coordinated by the World Green Building Council. It aims to strengthen collaboration between government, financiers, developers, and industry players to integrate sustainability into building standards and unlock green financing for infrastructure projects.
According to Mugure Njendu, Africa Programs Lead, Global Buildings Performance Network, Kenya is among the first African countries moving from roadmap development into active implementation of decarbonisation strategies in the built environment.
“GBPN is proud to have supported the development and launch of Kenya’s National Buildings and Construction Decarbonisation Roadmap and is now engaged in implementation through the Kenya Buildings Decarbonisation Funding Accelerator.” said Mugure
Stakeholders Seek Financing Solutions for Green Buildings
Speaking during a stakeholder workshop in Nairobi, Nasra Nanda CEO Kenya Green Building Society said the country had reached a critical turning point in mainstreaming green building standards and needed stronger financial support to accelerate uptake.
She noted that the workshop was designed to explore how green buildings can access financing through certification and investment incentives.
“We are looking for finance so that as we go green there is an incentive for stakeholders to go the green way whether it is financing projects, supporting government, or professionals in the market,” said Nanda.
The workshop also marked the launch of the Building Transition Programme, which aims to help banks develop green financing products while supporting government efforts to translate sustainability strategies into practical policies and market outcomes.
Nanda said the programme would align standards, finance, and projects to position Kenya as a continental leader in sustainable construction and climate-smart urban development.
Lack of Awareness and Data Slowing Green Transition
Stakeholders identified low awareness, inadequate market data, and financing barriers as some of the biggest obstacles preventing the growth of sustainable buildings in Kenya.
Nanda explained that many stakeholders still do not fully understand what green buildings entail or the benefits associated with sustainable construction.
“One of the key barriers is awareness because many stakeholders do not understand the green agenda within the built environment,” she said.
She added that banks often hesitate to finance sustainable construction projects because of limited data on market performance and investment returns.
Developers also raised concerns over complex financing requirements that make it difficult to access green funding opportunities.
Government Developing Digital Building Approval System
Kennedy Matheka, Deputy Director—Buildings Safety and Climate Resilience, State Department for Public Works noted that the government was implementing reforms to support the transition towards sustainable buildings.
Matheka said Kenya had spent nearly a decade working towards transforming the construction sector from conventional building practices to sustainable development models.
He revealed that the government is developing a national electronic buildings permitting and approval system aimed at improving efficiency, data collection, and coordination among stakeholders in the construction sector.
“The challenge of inadequate data has largely been caused by manual systems within the building approval process,” said Matheka.
He added that the digital platform would integrate counties, regulators, professionals, insurers, and financial institutions into one approval ecosystem, helping improve access to reliable sector data.
Matheka further disclosed that the government had already developed a Green Incentive Policy in 2025 and was now working on sector-specific proposals to be submitted to the National Treasury for consideration.
Green Buildings Reduce Utility Costs and Improve Health
Experts say sustainable buildings can significantly lower electricity and water costs while improving indoor health conditions for occupants.
According to John Kabue, one of the biggest gaps has been the disconnect between sustainability information and financial institutions. He noted that financiers require reliable sustainability data before committing investments to green projects.
“What has been missing is the connection between sustainability information and the financial data financiers need to make investment decisions,” he said.
He added that green buildings offer long-term benefits including lower utility bills, improved air quality, and healthier living spaces.
Kabue urged developers and landlords to provide tenants with accurate information about energy savings and environmental benefits associated with sustainable buildings.
Kenya Eyes Continental Leadership in Sustainable Construction
The programme is expected to support policy integration, mobilize green investment, and strengthen climate resilience in Kenya’s rapidly growing urban infrastructure sector.
The initiative is also aligned with Kenya’s international climate commitments, including the Buildings Breakthrough initiative and COP30 implementation priorities.
Cristina Gamboa, CEO, WorldGBC said, “We are pleased to be supporting the Kenya WorldGBC at this defining moment for the country’s-built environment. At the WGBC, climate action roadmaps are a core delivery mechanism of our global strategy, Building the Transition, helping to translate long‑term climate ambition into tangible, coordinated action.”
Officials say the programme could become a model for sustainable urban development across Africa by demonstrating how climate policies can be translated into practical and bankable investment opportunities within the built environment.