From Climate Ambition to Green Industry: Why Kenya and the UAE Must Build a Green Corridor
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By Zachary Ochieng
The Africa Forward Summit, which recently concluded in Nairobi, focused on the responsible utilization of the continent’s vast renewable energy resources as catalysts for industrialization, job creation, and equitable climate finance.
Kenya, which ranks 145 out of 187 countries in climate vulnerability according to the 2022 ND-GAIN index, exemplifies both the urgency of the challenge and the opportunity for transformative action.
Despite its susceptibility to droughts, floods, and rising temperatures, Kenya has positioned itself as a regional leader in climate action, charting a path that combines bold policy innovation, green industrialization, and international collaboration.
East Africa’s largest economy is standing at a pivotal moment. It is no longer just a country on the frontlines of climate change but is actively positioning itself as Africa’s climate solutions hub. This has been buttressed by the country’s leadership’s proactive measures, such as hosting the inaugural Africa Climate Summit in 2023, which culminated in the Nairobi Declaration—a landmark commitment to advancing green growth across the continent.
Kenya has made significant strides toward implementing this vision, with 90 percent of its energy produced from renewable sources and policies rated as compatible with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
At the centre of that vision sits the Sleeping Warrior Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Elementaita, a 1,517-acre green industrial park combining geothermal energy, carbon capture, clean manufacturing, agro-processing and climate technology ventures. The first phase alone covers about 300 acres. A new model of African-led green industrialisation is taking shape, right in Kenya’s Rift Valley.
The site is designed as a practical model integrating clean energy, industrial growth, climate innovation and local employment within one development model. That combination is increasingly becoming central to Kenya’s climate strategy. The geothermal project is expected to provide low-cost renewable power to industries ranging from carbon capture firms to green manufacturing companies.
From a Receiver of Climate Investment to a Global Creator of Green Technology
Kenya is also rapidly shifting from a receiver of climate investment to a global creator of green technology. The Rift Valley is also home to Octavia Carbon, which operates the Global South’s first Direct Air Capture (DAC) plant, proving the nation’s capacity to design and scale global-first climate tech.
Besides carbon capture, the SEZ is also hosting geothermal-powered bio-manufacturing projects such as Silk Origin Ltd, which uses thermal energy to support silk production for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. The company has already created more than 100 jobs.
The SEZ is also positioned to become a hub for high-integrity carbon credits—a market poised to generate annual turnovers of $100 billion globally between 2030 and 2035. Kenya’s geothermal-powered DAC plant can generate premium credits, offering a new revenue stream for local communities and investors alike.
Additional planned investments feature a $34 million, 7.5-megawatt solar plant and a green ammonia facility designed to output 300,000 tonnes of sustainable maritime fuel each year.
Furthermore, talks are underway with semiconductor, lithium battery, and solar panel manufacturers. To date, the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and its related geothermal projects have generated over 175 jobs.
Leveraging Partnerships Through the Green Corridor
Yet even the most visionary industrial parks cannot succeed in isolation. For all its geothermal steam and engineering talent, Kenya lacks the sheer scale of patient capital required to turn these proposals into operational realities. Ambitious announcements, no matter how compelling, will remain just that unless they are backed by partners who can deploy resources at speed and at scale.
This is precisely where strategic international partnerships become indispensable. The missing ingredient is long-term climate capital—and this is where the United Arab Emirates is becoming one of Africa’s most consequential partners.
Drawing on its domestic capabilities and international experience in renewable energy development, project delivery, and innovative financing, the UAE views investment in Africa’s clean-energy sector as a core pillar of its external engagement and long-term development partnership with the continent. Through this approach, the UAE aims to support sustainable infrastructure, crowd in private and multilateral capital, and enable African countries to unlock the economic and social benefits of clean, reliable, and affordable energy.
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The UAE-Kenya “Green Corridor” is a strategic pathway connecting the UAE’s $4.5 billion Africa Green Investment capital with Kenya’s abundant natural assets. This framework facilitates technology transfer, clean energy deployment, and sustainable industrialization through a landmark Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
“In renewable energy, Masdar has tripled its African renewables capacity to 3GW and is actively engaged with Kenya Power. These investments are designed to build productive capacity, support technology transfer and create skilled employment, with a focus on long-term industrial growth and economic resilience”, notes Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade.
The UAE has emerged as Africa’s largest single-country investor in recent years, committing more than USD 110 billion across the continent between 2019 and 2023, with over USD 70 billion directed to energy, green and renewable sectors.
AMEA Power, the Dubai developer owned by Al Nowais Investments, has invested $800 million in the 200MW Paka Geothermal Project in Baringo County. Beyond generation, BEEAH Group is exploring waste-to-energy partnerships with Kenyan counties; Etihad Credit Insurance is extending clean-energy financing, building on $500 million committed under a $4.5 billion UAE Africa Green Initiative. The UAE was already Kenya’s sixth-largest source of FDI in 2024. The Gulf brings patient capital and execution muscle; Kenya brings world-class geothermal and a renewables-heavy grid.
Moving Beyond Broad Statements of Intent
To realise the full potential of this partnership, both Kenya and the UAE should move beyond broad statements of intent and focus on building practical, long-term frameworks for cooperation. A dedicated Kenya–UAE Green Investment Corridor would provide a structured platform for channelling investment into renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, and sustainable agriculture, while giving investors greater certainty and confidence.
At the same time, both countries could deepen collaboration in climate innovation by linking universities, research institutions, and technology start-ups to accelerate knowledge exchange, research, and the commercialisation of clean technologies.
Unlocking larger volumes of private capital will also require innovative financing models, including blended finance instruments and green bonds that can de-risk investments in geothermal energy, solar power, battery storage, and modern electricity transmission networks.
Also Read: OPINION: The Race for Africa’s Digital Future Starts with Kenya and the UAE
Beyond energy, there is significant scope to expand cooperation in climate-smart agriculture through improved irrigation systems, cold-chain logistics, and precision farming technologies that enhance food security while strengthening resilience to climate change.
The partnership should also extend to carbon markets and climate finance, enabling Kenya to attract high-quality investment while advancing its emissions reduction commitments and sustainable development goals. Equally important is investing in people.
Joint training programmes in renewable energy engineering, green manufacturing, and clean technologies would equip a new generation of skilled professionals to drive the transition to a low-carbon economy. These efforts can be reinforced through stronger public-private partnerships that integrate clean energy with industrial parks, electric mobility, and sustainable transport systems, laying the foundation for a greener, more competitive, and more resilient economy.
Africa’s green transition will ultimately be measured not by the number of climate pledges announced at global summits, but by the quality of partnerships that translate ambition into action. Kenya brings world-class renewable resources, progressive climate policies, and a clear development vision. The UAE brings capital, technology, and a growing commitment to financing Africa’s clean energy future.
Together, they have an opportunity to build a Green Corridor that extends beyond bilateral cooperation—one that demonstrates how strategic partnerships can power a more resilient, prosperous, and sustainable Africa. In an era where climate leadership increasingly shapes economic competitiveness, the strongest alliances will be those that invest not only in cleaner energy but in shared growth and lasting resilience.
The author is a Global Communications Strategist and a commentator on climate change. Email: zachary.ochieng@gmail.com
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Zachary Ochieng. PHOTO/FILE.
