The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has dismissed reports suggesting that Kenya’s decision to grant Host Country Status to the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) was influenced by political pressure, terming the claims as baseless and misleading.

In a public notice released on Saturday, October 11, 2025, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei, emphasized that the decision followed due process in line with Kenyan law and long-established diplomatic practice.

“The imputation that the Host Country Agreement to the Global Center on Adaptation was granted as a result of external political pressure is without any foundation,” Dr. Sing’oei stated.

According to the Ministry, the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs docket operates under the Privileges and Immunities Act (CAP 179 Laws of Kenya), which empowers it to negotiate and conclude Host Country Agreements with intergovernmental organizations and external agencies.

The same law governs the administration of diplomatic privileges and immunities within the country.

The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, is an international non-governmental organization focused on accelerating climate adaptation solutions worldwide.

It maintains regional offices in various countries, including Nairobi, Kenya.

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Timeline of the Approval Process

Sing’oei outlined that the Ministry received GCA’s request for Host Country Agreement (HCA) on July 27, 2023, seeking facilitation to establish and operate its Nairobi Regional Office.

The office, he said, would bolster Kenya’s climate diplomacy and support its green growth agenda.

Following a comprehensive review process, the matter culminated on April 20, 2025, when the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs signed Legal Notice No. 82, officially granting privileges and immunities to the organization and its internationally recruited staff.

Subsequently, on September 30, 2025, Parliament ratified the decision after considering submissions, conducting stakeholder hearings, and facilitating public participation as required under Section 17 of the Act.

Similar Treatment to Other Organizations

The Ministry clarified that the privileges accorded to GCA are neither unique nor extraordinary.

Over 170 non-state entities operating in Kenya have been granted similar recognition since 1984.

These include notable organizations such as Oxfam, Save the Children, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), International Planned Parenthood, Lutheran World Federation, and the Centre for African Family Studies.

Such privileges typically cover tax exemptions on goods essential to an organization’s operations, protection from legal suits regarding good-faith actions, and the issuance of work permits to international staff.

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Commitment to Transparent Diplomacy

In reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to transparency and adherence to international norms, the Ministry said the move reflects the country’s proactive approach to strengthening partnerships in climate action.

“The Global Center on Adaptation’s presence in Nairobi underscores Kenya’s growing role in global climate diplomacy,” the statement read in part.

The Ministry maintained that all procedures followed were lawful and consistent with Kenya’s international obligations, adding that such partnerships are crucial to advancing sustainable development.

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Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Kenya, Korir Sing’oei. PHOTO/ Ministry of Foreign Affairs X.