Charles III in Kenya: can the “green” king influence the achievement of the SDGs?
A few weeks after the African Climate Summit (ACS) which it hosted with pomp in September 2023, Nairobi is once again at the heart of a major event which is none other than the visit of the King of England. Known among other things for his attachment to green spaces and his committed speeches against global warming, Charles III should, through his symbolic presence, positively influence the ecological transition underway in Kenya.
The King of England is making his very first official trip to African soil since his coronation on May 6, 2023. And it is Kenya, a country in the Horn of Africa with a controversial colonial past that Charles III has chosen. His solemn arrival on October 31, 2023 obviously raises questions about the future of relations between Nairobi and London, but also about the positive influence that his royal posture or even his ecological convictions known to all can play to accelerate the sustainable development of some 55 million Kenyans.
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This is the size of the English population in 2011. The two nations have in common population growth which is a key factor in understanding the climate crisis and its prospects. The former Prince of Wales's knowledge of plants, animals and agroecology - which he has often claimed as a heritage of nature - should be leveraged in his discussions with Kenya's political and economic authorities .
A royal vision of sustainable development to share
And the East African country surrounded by savannahs, lakes and mountainous areas is in great need of advice and visibility at this time when prolonged droughts and peaks of atmospheric pollution continue despite investments initiated several years ago. Already. Subjects at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but which will be discussed unofficially since the king has no political authority in the United Kingdom.
On the other hand, nothing obliges Charles III – who is known to be very wise on biodiversity (SDGs 14 and 15) – to remain silent in the face of urban sprawl which threatens the Nairobi National Park (117 km 2 ) . The British monarch will visit this natural area to appreciate the conservation initiatives carried out by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). His environmentalist opinion will also count when it comes to safeguarding ecosystems during his excursion to a nature reserve in the southern city of Mombasa.
London's support for Nairobi's ecological transition
Thus, the simple presence of “His Majesty” reminds Kenyan leaders that they are not going wrong on the ongoing projects, but that they perhaps need to accelerate them in order to be the first African nation in the Commonwealth up to date. in 2030 in the implementation of the 17 SDGs. If no agreement will be signed, it is at least certain that it paves the way for Rishi Sunak's government to strengthen economic cooperation between Kenya and Great Britain.
It currently stands at $1.4 billion. London, which is Nairobi's first foreign investor, for example, announced in 2021 the creation of an $80 million fund for the construction of 10,000 ecological housing units in Kakamega county, in the west of the country. This is part of the smart city project called Mwale Medical and Technology City ( MMTC ).
