Youths Protest Against Foreign Carbon Credit Deal in Kajiado
Kajiado County, Kenya – Wednesday, April 30, 2025 – Tension flared at Oldonyonyokie Ranch in Kajiado County as residents, led by angry youths, staged a major protest against a proposed carbon credit project involving a foreign company.
The unrest began early Wednesday morning after a group of local youths disrupted a scheduled meeting organized by the foreign firm.
The company is seeking to lease approximately 68,000 acres of community land for a 40-year carbon credit agreement, a move that has sparked fierce resistance from the locals.
The protesters, many of them young people armed with clubs and carrying twigs, marched through a remote area while chanting songs of unity and shouting slogans like “We do not want carbon!” Videos seen by Newshub.co.ke captured the determined group as they made their way toward the meeting venue, demanding transparency and community involvement.
Security forces were quickly deployed to the area to maintain order and prevent any possible outbreak of violence.
However, the demonstrators remained undeterred, boldly confronting police officers and continuing to express their displeasure with the foreign investors and local leaders supporting the deal.
The protesting youths strongly criticized the move, claiming the company is attempting to seize their ancestral land without their informed consent.
They warned local elders and community representatives against signing any land agreements, saying most residents have not been properly consulted or informed about the implications of the carbon credit project.
“They’re collecting our parents’ signatures without telling them what they’re signing for. Some of our parents are not educated, and they are being misled into giving away our land. We are warning leaders behind this deal—this is our future they are trading,” said one youth during the demonstration.
This protest is not an isolated event. For the past three years, carbon credit initiatives in Kajiado County have been met with growing criticism.
Although these projects are marketed as efforts to combat climate change and create financial benefits through the sale of carbon offsets, many residents remain skeptical about the long-term effects on their grazing lands, livelihoods, and homesteads.
Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku has previously taken action on such matters. On several occasions, he has revoked carbon credit agreements between private companies and local communities, citing opaque contract terms, lack of community involvement, and the risk of exploitation.
Barely a month ago, residents in another part of Kajiado staged a similar protest, accusing foreign companies of bypassing local governance and pushing ahead with land acquisition plans without full disclosure.
Community members say they are being pressured into signing deals they do not understand, and many are questioning who truly benefits from these environmental projects.
As the standoff continues, it is evident that there is a rising demand from locals for honest dialogue, legal clarity, and full participation in any negotiations involving their land and natural resources.
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