{
  "id": 4248858,
  "title": "Climate change groups call for greater investment in clean energy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/climate-change-groups-call-for-greater-investment-in-clean-energy",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-29T18:11:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KBC",
    "slug": "kbc",
    "url": "https://www.kbc.co.ke/climate-change-groups-call-for-greater-investment-in-clean-energy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Kenya is taking steps to increase access to clean and affordable energy, particularly for underserved communities. Civil society and faith-based organizations are pressing for more transparency in financing for decentralised renewable energy projects, ensuring that investments reach households, schools, health facilities, farmers, and small businesses. Access to reliable and affordable energy remains a challenge in many areas, especially where the national grid is not accessible or electricity costs are high. The Kenya Climate Change Working Group believes that transitioning to clean energy can address this issue, but emphasises that financing should target projects with tangible community benefits. Through the Energy Advocacy Project, the climate change working group, supported by Christian Aid, is examining financing by the African Development Bank for decentralised renewable energy initiatives in Kenya. The demand for greater investment emerges as counties seek alternatives to reduce reliance on the national grid and lower electricity expenses. The working group highlights that financing choices will ultimately dictate whether the transition benefits communities outside major urban areas. Elizabeth Wanja, the KCCWG Coordinator, shared key findings from the 2024 AfDB CSO processes and the assessment of AfDB financing for decentralised renewable energy and clean cooking in Kenya. While AfDB investments have contributed significantly to renewable energy generation, geothermal development, and grid access, direct funding for mini-grids, standalone solar, and community-level energy outcomes remains comparatively lower. The communiqué from a recent workshop emphasizes a commitment to enhance CSO and inter-faith collaboration, encourage meaningful participation in Mission 300 and national energy planning, advocate for energy justice for marginalised communities, improve transparency and accountability in AfDB-funded programmes, and build ongoing technical capacity among civil society and faith actors. The communiqué outlines priority recommendations for the African Development Bank and the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, such as institutionalised CSO and interfaith engagement, enhanced pipeline transparency, expanded financing for decentralised renewable energy (DRE), and stronger county-level involvement. The workshop, part of KCCWG's ongoing AfDB CSO Engagement Project supported by Christian Aid through the Africa Energy Advocacy Project, included representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Nairobi Rivers Commission, Hindu Council of Kenya, SUPKEM, GreenFaith Africa, Norwegian Church Aid, and various civil society organisations and faith-based institutions across Kenya.",
  "summary": "Kenya is stepping up efforts to expand access to clean and affordable energy, particularly in communities that remain underserved by the national electricity grid. Civil society and faith-based organisations are now calling for greater transparency in financing for decentralised renewable energy, saying investments must reach households, schools, health facilities, farmers, and small businesses…",
  "key_points": [
    "Kenya's Climate Change Working Group pushes for transparency in clean energy financing.",
    "Workshop calls for greater civil society and faith-based involvement in energy planning and justice."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}