In the sun-drenched rural landscapes of Kenya, the challenges of climate change weigh heavily on communities already vulnerable to economic hardship and social inequities. Yet, within these very challenges lies tremendous opportunities, opportunities to empower women entrepreneurs, innovate climate solutions, and build resilient livelihoods that can withstand the storms of a warming world.
Kenya Climate Ventures (KCV) stands at the forefront of this transformation. Since 2016, KCV has been more than an investor; it has been a partner and enabler of growth, scaling climate-smart, gender-inclusive enterprises that not only reduce environmental impact but also uplift entire communities, even in the most underserved and fragile markets.
Breaking Barriers: The Power of Gender-Inclusive Climate Investment
Women in Kenya’s underserved markets face significant obstacles in accessing capital, technology, and markets hurdles that are amplified in climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, and waste management. At KCV, the belief is clear: gender inclusion is not just an ethical imperative but a strategic necessity for scaling climate impact.
Over 55% of KCV’s portfolio companies are women-owned or led, reflecting a commitment to shifting the traditional investment landscape. This intentional gender lens ensures that capital reaches enterprises that empower women economically, fostering ripple effects that improve food security, health, and community resilience.
Take, for example, Botanic Treasures which is a of climate-smart, gender-inclusive enterprise. With over 3,000 empowered farmers, 60% of them being women and support for 50 Green Village Enterprises that have created over 1,000 jobs, the company is a catalyst for economic and social transformation. Its agroforestry model has restored 300 hectares of degraded land, planted 2.2 million moringa trees, and sequesters approximately 176,000 tons of CO₂ annually. By providing nutritious moringa products to more than 50,000 people, Botanic Treasures is also improving health outcomes. These efforts align strongly with several SDGs, including ending poverty and hunger, supporting good health and wellbeing, and advancing climate action.
At Kenya Climate Ventures, we believe that climate action must be inclusive to be effective. By investing in women-led enterprises and climate-smart innovations, we are not only mitigating environmental risks but also unlocking pathways for economic empowerment and community resilience in the most underserved regions of Kenya.” Victor Ndiege, CEO, Kenya Climate Ventures
Stories of Impact: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities
Across counties and sectors, KCV’s investees are transforming climate challenges into inclusive, high-impact solutions. Kings Biofuels, based in Murang’a County, manufactures clean-burning briquettes from agricultural waste, offering an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to firewood and charcoal. By promoting the use of high-quality briquetted charcoal for both domestic and industrial use, the company actively reduces deforestation, improves indoor air quality, and creates dignified employment for marginalized groups. Their work aligns with Kenya’s national climate goals and supports a vision of sustainable energy access for all.
In the water sector, Nazava Water Filters provides safe, affordable household water filters that do not require boiling or electricity, improving health outcomes while reducing plastic waste and carbon emissions. Originally founded in Indonesia, Nazava has expanded its impact to Kenya and Ethiopia, reaching over 600,000 people globally with clean drinking water and empowering local entrepreneurs through a decentralized distribution model. Both enterprises exemplify how climate-smart innovations, when supported with catalytic capital and market linkages, can unlock lasting environmental, social, and economic value.
But the impact extends even deeper to humanitarian markets like Kakuma, where access to capital and infrastructure is scarce, and the climate risks are acute. In Kakuma, KCV-backed enterprises are demonstrating how innovation can thrive even in underserved and humanitarian settings. Rafode Limited, a microfinance institution, is enabling refugee and host communities to access solar home systems and clean cookstoves through clean energy financing. Nearby in Letea village, Hydroponics Africa Limited has introduced simplified hydroponic farming, making fresh produce accessible while conserving water and land, a transformative solution for food security and climate resilience in arid regions.
Each of these enterprises exemplifies how tailored capital and technical support can unlock potential. KCV doesn’t just invest money, it provides hands-on mentorship, market linkages, and operational guidance, ensuring that promising innovations scale sustainably and inclusively.
Scaling with Intention: Beyond Capital
Scaling impact requires more than funding; it demands a holistic approach that integrates capacity building, gender considerations, and environmental stewardship.
KCV’s model deploys patient, affordable capital combined with strategic post-investment support. This includes strengthening managerial skills, facilitating access to new markets, and fostering networks that amplify growth particularly in rural, peri-urban, and humanitarian settings that are often overlooked by traditional financiers.
Contact Us: info@kcv.co.ke
Visit: www.kcv.co.ke
Follow: LinkedIn|X|Facebook
