Ruto launches Ksh.1.7 billion GCA headquarters in Nairobi to combat climate change

He stressed that Kenya is fully committed to the principles of sustainable development and climate resilience.

He made the remarks after breaking ground for the construction of the dual headquarters of the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete, Nairobi, on Tuesday.

The other GCA headquarters is in Rotterdam in the Netherlands and serves the developed world. The one to be based in Kenya will serve the Global South.

"The establishment of this centre is timely, strategic, and visionary," said President Ruto.  "It will serve as a regional platform for policy dialogue, cutting-edge research, and capacity-building to accelerate climate adaptation."

The President said the institution will be built at a cost of Ksh.1.7 billion, but at no cost to the Government.

The centre is the initiative of former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who launched it in 2018. Ban Ki-moon now serves as GCA's honorary chairman. 

The organisation focuses on accelerating climate adaptation efforts in vulnerable regions of the world, including Africa.

President Ruto joined the organisation's advisory board in September 2023.

Present at the function was former Senegalese President Macky Sall, who is also the chairman of GCA's Supervisory Board.

Also at the meeting was Prof Patrick Verkooijen, president and CEO of GCA, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Nairobi. 

President Ruto said the new headquarters will bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and development agencies to design and deliver practical solutions.

"We aim to place climate adaptation at the heart of public service training, performance management, and leadership development," he said.

Earlier at State House, Nairobi, the President awarded Ban the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya, the country's highest national honour. 

In his remarks, Ban said: "This century is Africa's century. But Africa can only secure its future if it secures itself from climate shocks."

He said the climate crisis is real and called for concerted global efforts to address it.

"In the name of humanity, in the name of the Global South, we must speak out," he said. 

Former President Sall commended President Ruto for his leadership in promoting green development at home and abroad.

Meanwhile,  President Ruto assented to the Division of Revenue Bill, 2025, allocating Ksh.2.332 trillion to the National Government and Ksh.415 billion to county governments in the 2025/2026 financial year. 

The Act has also allocated Ksh.9.6 billion to the Equalisation Fund to be shared among 34 counties to support development projects.

The Ksh.415 billion allocation to counties represents an increase of Ksh.27.6 billion from the Ksh.387.425 billion they were allocated in the 2024/2025 financial year.