The Principal Secretary for Public Investments and Assets Management Mr. Cyrell Wagunda joined the Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry  Dr. Deborah Barasa for the opening of the 12th Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Finance for Africa and the Arab States happening in Westlands, Nairobi.

The PS represented the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury FCPA Hon. John Mbadi  during the three-day event convened by the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP.

The conference themed: 'Advancing practical solutions, strengthening institutional delivery, and accelerating Financing Africa and Arab States’ Biodiversity Priorities'.

In his remarks read by PS Wagunda, CS Mbadi said that, natural capital is more than a heritage we all cherish adding that, it is the engine that powers our progress.

He added that, 48% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) comes from nature dependent sectors among them forests, soils, rivers, rangelands, and ecosystems which highly contribute food security, jobs, clean water, and climate resilience.

“Over 91% of Kenya’s domestic electricity comes from renewable sources; geothermal, wind, solar, and hydro. It is proof that when we invest in nature, nature gives back generously,” the speech read.
He observed that, Kenya is a nature based economy thus nature is our greatest competitive advantage, if we choose to protect it.

“Across Africa, women walk further for water, work harder for food, and carry the weight of environmental decline in their homes and livelihoods. And yet, they continue to lead, quietly and powerfully, as custodians of forests, innovators in agriculture, protectors of water sources, and champions of climate resilience,” the CS said.

As the anchor Ministry for the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), The CS reiterated that the National Treasury is committed to ensuring that Kenya’s biodiversity finance architecture not only protects ecosystems, but also uplifts people, women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities.

“Through the Biodiversity Finance Plan that Kenya is developing, we will map where investment is most needed, identify the policies that unlock scale, and design strategies that attract both public and private capital. I take this opportunity to applaud UNDP for championing BIOFIN in Kenya,” he concluded.