State to enter multi-million shilling carbon market

By Peter Prengo

The Government is formulating a strategy that will enable the country reap billions of shillings from carbon markets and trade.

Yesterday, top managers of environment sector and related ministries met in a forum to get views from environmentalists, bankers, civil society groups and development partners and to strategise on how to make the most of carbon trade.

Forestry Minister Noah Wekesa, who was represented by his assistant Josephat Nanok, expressed disappointment that African countries have not benefited from the Kyoto Protocol that provides for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

"It has been said that instruments of CDM are complicated thus closing out access to financial resources by African countries. But I believe that if we put our act together, the continent will have access to this global facility," the minister said.

According to CDM on carbon trading, Kenya could claim a significant portion of the carbon market through planting of trees and environmental conservation.

Meanwhile, Higher Education ministry has is encouraging girls to take up science courses.

Speaking at a workshop on women in science in Mombasa, Higher Education Assistant minister Asman Kamama said more girls should take up science-related courses to get the jobs now dominated by men.