March, 11, 2026. At its core, carbon offsetting seeks to be a win-win-win solution, good for the environment, sustainable development, and communities alike. But, is that the case on the ground?
In Taita Taveta County, some members of the Taita Taveta Wildlife Conservancies Association have been engaging in carbon credit projects as part of the growing voluntary carbon market. A recent research study led by Prof. Kennedy Mukutu of United States International University-Africa, in collaboration with Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and other academic institutions, examined how these projects are playing out locally.
We held a stakeholder workshop to share findings, validate experiences, and identify key lessons.
Carbon offsetting helps industries meet their climate targets by funding projects that implement activities that either avoid, remove, or reduce GHG emissions from the atmosphere. These activities may include reducing the rate of Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), Afforestation and Reforestation, or improved Agricultural Land Management (ALM) practices.
These initiatives involve local communities, project developers, Regulatory bodies, Validation and Verification Bodies(VVBs), intermediaries, and buyers, all working together to connect global demand with local action. The voluntary carbon market is expanding quickly. According to the research, Kenya had 417 voluntary carbon market projects as of 2025, with 129 project developers and 887 (mostly international) buyers.
The discussions were honest and forward-looking. Key lessons emerged:
- Meaningful community participation is non-negotiable; Free Prior Informed Consent(FPIC) must be real. Communities must have opportunities to co-design carbon projects, not as beneficiaries on paper but as partners.
- Land tenure clarity determines who owns carbon rights and who earns from it.
- Gender justice must be central, not peripheral.
- The credibility of the entire carbon sector is at stake. Methodologies, accountability systems, and transparency, before, during, and after project implementation, must be strengthened.
For too long, community gains have been framed as “co-benefits.” The workshop emphasized that for local and Indigenous communities, benefits must be core, not secondary.
If integrity improves, community voices strengthen, and land rights are secured, carbon finance can become a powerful tool for conservation and sustainable development. If not, the viability of the sector itself may be at risk.
The path forward is clear: Climate solutions must be community-centered, rights-based, and transparent.