Kenya Breaks Ground For Global Centre On Adaptation Africa Dual Headquarters In Nairobi
By MKT Correspondent
Kenya has marked a historic milestone with the groundbreaking of the Africa Headquarters of the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) at the Kenya School of Government, Lower Kabete.
The new facility, to be known as Mazingira House, will also serve as the headquarters of Kenya’s Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.
The event presided over yesterday by President Dr. William Samoei Ruto and was attended dozens of local and international stakeholders led by Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa and Principal Secretary Dr. Eng. Festus Ng’eno.
In his address, President Ruto highlighted the harsh realities of climate change facing Kenya and many African nations from prolonged droughts and destructive floods to erratic weather patterns. “Our ecosystems are under immense pressure,” he stated.
“It is our responsibility to strengthen our capacity to adapt by building resilient institutions, empowering our workforce, and fostering the partnerships needed to act.”
The Head of State emphasized that the GCA Dual Headquarters will serve as a strategic platform for policy dialogue, cutting-edge research, and capacity-building across all levels of governance. He reaffirmed Kenya’s unwavering commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience, noting that the centre aligns with the Climate Change Act, the National Climate Change Action Plan, and Vision 2030.
On her part, Barasa expressed Kenya’s profound gratitude for the establishment of the GCA Africa Headquarters in Nairobi. She hailed the move as a bold step forward in Kenya’s climate leadership and Africa’s collective adaptation journey. “This centre reaffirms our role as a driver of African-led climate solutions. It is a symbol of Kenya’s long-standing commitment to resilience,” Dr. Barasa said.
She underscored the importance of turning climate risks into development opportunities, drawing from Kenya’s National Adaptation Plan and ongoing efforts across government.
Dr. Barasa further reiterated Kenya’s commitment to making the GCA headquarters a global epicenter for adaptation knowledge, finance, and leadership.
“We will continue to advocate for the doubling of adaptation finance and ensure that Africa’s priorities are well-resourced and globally recognized,” she added.
The establishment of the GCA Africa Dual Headquarters positions Kenya at the heart of Africa’s climate adaptation efforts. It signals a transformative shift toward homegrown solutions, strong partnerships, and climate-smart governance in response to the growing climate crisis.
The ceremony brought together global climate leaders, including Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General and Honorary Chair of GCA; Macky Sall, former President of Senegal and Supervisory Chair of the GCA; Prof. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the GCA, Senior government officials, among others.
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