Regulation: Registries and Kenya's 2026 Rule Book

Buying African carbon credits means interacting with at least two regulatory layers: the international registry and the host-country rule book. Kenya's is the most developed in East Africa.

Last updated: November 2026. Figures and regulatory details reflect publicly reported information as of that date; verify current rules with the relevant registry or regulator before transacting.

The registries

• Verra (VCS) — the largest voluntary registry globally and the main home of African REDD+ and soil-carbon projects. Publishes a public project database.
• Gold Standard — strong on cookstoves and community projects; its metered and measured methodology now underpins electric-cooking credits.
• Plan Vivo — smaller, community-first projects; home of Kenya's Mikoko Pamoja mangroves.
• CORSIA — ICAO's aviation scheme; a separate eligibility list governs which credits airlines can use.

Kenya's rule book (August 2026)

Kenya published its carbon-market rule book in August 2026. Key points for buyers:

• Export cap: the overseas sale of Kenyan carbon credits is capped — reported at around 10 million tonnes CO₂e per year. Large buyers should confirm headroom with the project before contracting volume.
• National registry: Kenya launched a national carbon registry in February 2026 to track projects and Article 6 trading domestically.
• Domestic exchange: a Kenyan carbon exchange is planned to open in early 2027, which will add a domestic trading venue.

What this means for your contract

Ask every seller of Kenyan credits for (1) registry issuance and retirement serials, (2) evidence of Kenyan regulatory approval under the 2026 rule book, and (3) the benefit-sharing arrangement with the host community. If a seller cannot produce all three, walk away.

Controversies & criticism

Registry review history is part of the regulatory picture. The Kasigau Corridor REDD+ projects were reviewed by Verra between November 2023 — after sexual-abuse allegations reported by The Guardian on 7 November 2023 — and 1 February 2024, when Verra found the grievance and safeguarding measures adequate and left the projects active. The Northern Kenya Rangelands Carbon Project was suspended and reinstated in June 2026 after an independent review that campaign groups, including Survival International's "Blood Carbon" campaign, have publicly disputed. Before contracting, read each registry's published review conclusion and ask the seller to confirm the project's current standing.