Kenya’s push to become a carbon credit hub has sparked fierce resistance from Indigenous communities, activists, and even celebrities like journalist and media personality Lynn Ngugi. While President William Ruto champions carbon markets as Kenya’s “next big export,” Indigenous Maasai and Samburu communities accuse the government of land grabs disguised as climate action.
Two major carbon projects, the Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project (NKRCP) and the Kajiado Rangeland Carbon Project (KRCP), are at the centre of the storm. Courts have suspended NKRCP over illegal conservancy setups, while Kajiado herders protest against Soils for the Future Africa (SftFA), alleging coercion and lack of consent.
Critics argue that carbon markets greenwash pollution, exploit Indigenous lands, and fail to deliver promised benefits. Activists like Leonida Odongo highlight how communities sign agreements they don’t understand, locking them into decades-long leases with little gain.
Despite government assurances that 40% of proceeds will go to locals, scepticism runs deep. With Verra suspending projects over governance flaws and protests growing, Kenya’s carbon dreams risk collapsing under land rights battles and accusations of climate colonialism.
As Kenyans demand real solutions, like solar and wind energy, the world watches: Will carbon credits uplift communities or deepen injustice?
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