What the Climate Change (Non-Market Approaches) Regulations, 2026 mean for climate projects in Kenya

The Climate Change (Non-Market Approaches) Regulations, 2026 (Regulations) mark an important development in Kenya’s evolving climate change regulatory landscape. In recent years, climate policy discussions in Kenya have largely focused on carbon markets and the implementation of Article 6.2 and 6.4 of the Paris Agreement. Against this backdrop, the Regulations, which were gazetted on 12 February 2026, are particularly significant because they reflect a broader policy shift towards establishing a legal framework for non-market approaches (NMAs) to climate change in Kenya. The Regulations also operationalise Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement, which encourages co-operation on climate action outside traditional carbon-credit trading systems.