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Solar & battery storage transform energy reliability at a school in Mombasa, Kenya
A 64 kWp solar PV system with 92 kWh of battery storage installed by Burhani Solar at a school in Mombasa, Kenya, now supplies approximately 95% of the facility's electricity. The project has reduced operating costs, mitigated the impact of utility outages, and lowered the institution's carbon footprint.
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Document type: Case study
BEYOND FOSSIL FUELS: VISIONS FOR ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION IN KENYA
Kenya faces a significant economic burden from fossil fuel imports and subsidies despite having a nearly 90 percent renewable electricity grid. The report argues that transitioning away from fossil fuels is an economic imperative, as revenues from potential oil and coal projects are insufficient to address the national debt. It proposes a three-step pathway: immediate integration of phase-out plans, short-to-medium term divestment and investment in high-growth sectors (renewable energy, e-mobility, climate-smart agriculture, green manufacturing, and the digital economy), and long-term decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors. The document also highlights the risks of stranded assets and 'debt trap diplomacy' and recommends joining a Fossil Fuel Treaty to unlock international finance and technical support.
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Document type: Report
Kenya
The report analyzes Kenya's development path toward 2043, comparing a 'Current Path' with eight ambitious sectoral scenarios and a 'Combined Agenda 2063' scenario. Key findings highlight that while Kenya has a resilient economy and leads Africa in geothermal energy, it faces significant hurdles in corruption, infrastructure, and public debt. The analysis suggests that full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and improvements in governance would have the most substantial positive impacts on GDP per capita and poverty reduction. A combined approach of all scenarios could increase GDP by 123.1% over the current path and drastically reduce carbon emissions by transitioning fully to renewables.
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Document type: Report
Kenya: Background
The report outlines Kenya's transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy and its current administrative structure of 47 semi-autonomous counties. It details the country's diverse natural resources, including minerals and agricultural commodities, and examines the 'Vision 2030' development blueprint. The document highlights economic progress, such as GDP growth and poverty reduction between 2010 and 2019, while noting critical challenges including climate change, high energy costs, and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russian war.
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Document type: Report
Kenya Development Futures: Geographic Futures
The report identifies Kenya as a pivotal East African economic powerhouse with the potential for a 685% GDP increase by 2043 under a Combined scenario. It argues that implementing eight sectoral interventions could raise GDP per capita to US$10,950 and reduce extreme poverty from 64.6% in 2019 to 6.4% by 2043. To ensure sustainable and equitable growth, the document recommends strengthening anti-corruption efforts, expanding education and healthcare, investing in modern irrigation, and accelerating the transition to renewable energy through geothermal, solar, and wind projects.
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Document type: Research paper
Burhani Solar – Educational facility commercial solar project (Kenya)
Burhani Solar installed a 64 kWp solar PV and 92 kWh battery energy storage system for an educational institution in Mombasa, Kenya, to improve power reliability and reduce operational electricity costs.
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Document type: Case study
Africas energy future in a post-aid world
The report examines the impact of declining official development assistance (ODA) on Africa's energy sector, noting a 10% drop in ODA flows since 2020. It argues that this funding gap, particularly severe in the energy sector, necessitates a shift toward private capital and domestic savings, which currently stand at 18% in Sub-Saharan Africa compared to a 36% global average. The document identifies structural inefficiencies in state-run utilities—where transmission and distribution losses cost the continent approximately 5 billion USD annually—as a primary barrier to progress. To achieve energy independence and industrial growth, the report recommends strengthening regional integration via the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to expand fragmented energy markets and diversifying away from expensive thermal generation. Ultimately, it calls for an energy agenda led by African nations rather than external funders in Washington, Brussels, or Beijing, treating energy investment as a development multiplier that could unlock market opportunities of nearly 12 trillion USD across four key sectors.
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Document type: Report
Burhani Solar – Powering BMU’s for local fishing communities (Kenya)
Burhani Solar installed four off-grid solar PV systems (three 7 kW and one 16 kW) with lithium battery storage for Beach Management Units in Kenya. Funded by the European Union as part of the Go Blue Programme, the project provides reliable power for cold chain infrastructure, water purification, and solar lanterns for women fish traders, transitioning operations from diesel to 100% renewable energy.
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Document type: Case study
From Local Action to Global Impact: Elevating Subnational Governments in the G20 Climate Agenda
The policy brief highlights the critical role of local governments in Africa and the Global South as implementers of climate adaptation, mitigation, and biodiversity goals. It identifies systemic barriers—including severe finance gaps, technical capacity constraints, and data deficiencies—that hinder municipal action. The authors recommend that South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency establish a multi-level climate governance declaration, a dedicated local climate action forum, and a specialized finance access facility to empower subnational governments as equal partners in global climate governance.
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Document type: Policy brief
Country Brief: Sustainable Cooling for All in Kenya
Kenya faces significant cooling gaps, with millions of people in hot regions at risk due to poverty and lack of electricity. While the country has a high share of renewable energy, the growth of refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) threatens to increase emissions, necessitating a transition to sustainable cooling to align with Net Zero 2050 goals.
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Document type: Briefing
Trashion : The stealth export of waste plastic clothes to Kenya
The report exposes how the used-clothing trade is used by the Global North to export plastic waste to Kenya. It estimates that over 300 million items of synthetic, unsellable clothing are exported to Kenya annually, leading to severe environmental pollution in the Nairobi River and at dumpsites like Dandora. The investigation highlights the failure of sorting at the source and the role of recycling companies that claim circularity while exporting waste. It recommends the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, eco-design requirements, and a virgin plastic tax to curb overproduction and the export of synthetic waste.
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Document type: Report
NAIROBI NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORT ENFORCEMENT DIALOGUE
The Nairobi Non-Motorized Transport Enforcement Dialogue, held on April 6, 2022, brought together various Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) departments to evaluate the state of non-motorized transport (NMT) infrastructure and enforcement. While the forum celebrated well-maintained footpaths and cycling paths on streets such as Kenyatta Avenue and Muindi Mbingu Street, it identified significant failures including illegal vendor encroachment, lack of accessibility for persons with disabilities on Jogoo Road footbridges, and air pollution. NMS officials committed to improving NMT systems in 10 major corridors by the end of 2022 and enhancing pedestrian safety through street lighting. Key enforcement challenges identified include political interference and hostility from boda boda riders, with officials emphasizing the need for greater public sensitization and inter-departmental coordination.
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Document type: Report
Plastic waste management and recycling in Mombasa, Kenya
The report examines the plastic recycling ecosystem in Mombasa, Kenya, identifying a value chain that ranges from informal waste pickers to formal converters. While PET, HDPE, and PVC are recycled, other polymers like LDPE and polystyrene largely end up as litter. The study highlights significant barriers to a circular economy, including high licensing costs, poor working conditions for marginalized collectors, and a lack of designated recycling infrastructure. It emphasizes the potential of upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations to transform the sector and recommends implementing waste segregation at the source and providing financial incentives for recyclers.
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Document type: Report
Blueprints for Climate Finance in Kenya
The report identifies a significant financing gap in Kenya's climate response, noting that while renewable energy is well-funded, adaptation sectors like water, forestry, and food security are underserved. To address this, it proposes three market-based instruments: the African Conservancies Fund (ACF) for wildlife and tourism, the Chyulu Hills Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) for watershed protection, and the Green Village Savings and Loans Association (GVSLA) for community-level resilience. The document emphasizes the role of blended finance and concessional funding in the early stages of these projects to mitigate risk and attract private investors.
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Document type: Report
SOUTH AFRICA MAINSTREAMING THE INFORMAL WASTE SECTOR TOWARDS AN INCLUSIVE CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN AFRICAN CITIES
The report examines the role of informal waste reclaimers in African cities, highlighting their significant contribution to recycling and waste diversion despite facing severe health risks, social marginalization, and low pay. It argues that the current linear 'take-make-waste' model is unsustainable and that an 'inclusive circular economy' must integrate these vulnerable workers into formal policy and value chains. The document provides a comparative analysis of the informal waste sector in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, detailing specific policy gaps and opportunities for reclaimer integration and formalization.
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Document type: Report
Ecosystem-based Flood Risk Management in Sub-Saharan Cities Summary Paper
The document examines urban flood challenges in five Sub-Saharan cities, highlighting the transition from traditional grey infrastructure to Integrated Flood Risk Management (IFRM) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). It details specific interventions across Accra, Cape Town, Durban, Nairobi, and Mombasa, emphasizing that effective flood governance requires multi-stakeholder collaboration and the integration of social principles to protect vulnerable populations in informal settlements.
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Document type: Executive summary
Ecosystem-based Flood Management
The report examines urban flooding in five cities across Ghana, South Africa, and Kenya, highlighting the vulnerability of informal settlements to climate-exacerbated rainfall and poor urban planning. It compares the maturity of South African cities in integrating EbA into policy against the more response-oriented, 'grey' infrastructure bias in Kenyan cities. Key findings emphasize that collaborative, whole-of-society governance and the integration of green and grey infrastructure are most effective for long-term resilience.
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Document type: Report
Together for Safety
The report 'Together for Safety 21 Ways Forward' outlines strategies for urban leaders to combat extremism and polarisation, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. It identifies trends such as the 'gamification of extremism' and the use of conspiracy theories by right-wing and jihadist groups to target minorities and youth. The document provides 21 guiding principles across four themes: preventing extremism post-pandemic, countering online hate, securing public spaces, and empowering youth. Key recommendations include adopting evidence-based 'hot spot mapping', investing in youth-led organisations, and strengthening mental health initiatives to build community resilience.
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Document type: Report
A Covid-Era Discussion: Mobility of the Informal Sector, Fiscal Legitimacy and the Fiscal Contract in Kenya
The document examines how Covid-19 restrictions in Kenya disproportionately affected the informal sector, which comprises 83.6% of the employed population. It argues that a compromised fiscal social contract—characterized by poor healthcare delivery, corruption, and limited transparency—discourages tax compliance among informal workers. While the government implemented some tax reliefs, the authors contend that true fiscal legitimacy requires systemic reforms in accountability, access to fiscal information, and sustainable debt management to ensure an inclusive system.
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Document type: Research paper
Mombasa: Stepping Stones to a Climate-Resilient Future?
The document examines the vulnerability of Mombasa to climate change, specifically flooding and sea-level rise, and argues for the integration of nature-based solutions into urban planning. It highlights the role of mangroves, constructed wetlands, and urban green zones in enhancing ecological and social resilience. The brief notes that current major planning documents, such as the Gate City Master Plan, lack systematic climate resilience strategies, and advocates for a 'joined-up' approach using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to coordinate stakeholder action and build social capital.
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Document type: Policy brief