KCB Bank Kenya used a high‑level side event at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, to call for stronger strategic partnerships and innovative financing to accelerate clean‑energy adoption in the education sector.

The session, titled “Strengthening Strategic Partnerships for Sustainable Finance, Climate Action and Investment in Kenya,” focused on decarbonising schools and other learning institutions through collaborative financing mechanisms.

KCB Managing Director Annastacia Kimtai co‑hosted the event with Environment Cabinet Secretary Dr Deborah Mlongo Barasa and Principal Secretary Dr Eng. Festus Ng’eno, bringing together government officials and key stakeholders.

Since 2022, KCB has rolled out a clean‑energy financing pilot worth more than Sh2 billion, supporting 600 schools and 60 TVET colleges in shifting to cleaner power sources.

Participating institutions report lower energy bills, reduced reliance on biomass fuels and more reliable electricity supply as a result of the pilot.

Cabinet Secretary Barasa outlined the government’s policy frameworks and its commitment to achieving universal access to clean cooking by 2028.

She also projected a scale‑up to 10,000 secondary schools, 250 TVET institutions and 42 universities, estimating a financing need of about US$460 million.

Discussions highlighted the importance of mobilising concessional finance, de‑risking tools and technical assistance to attract development finance institutions and private investors.

KCB positioned its clean‑energy financing as a catalyst for Kenya’s climate commitments, aiming to improve resource conservation and create healthier learning environments.