The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has issued a formal clarification regarding the recent granting of Host Country Status to the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), amid claims of external political influence in the decision.
Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei emphasized that the process followed all legal and procedural frameworks under the Privileges and Immunities Act (CAP 179, Laws of Kenya) and was consistent with how similar agreements have been handled in the past.
“The imputation that the Host Country Agreement to the Global Center on Adaptation was granted as a result of external political pressure is without any basis,” Dr. Sing’oei stated.
The GCA, an international non-governmental organization headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with a regional office in Nairobi, is dedicated to accelerating climate adaptation solutions globally. Kenya is positioning itself as a key player in climate diplomacy and green growth, and the GCA’s regional presence is expected to support this ambition.
According to the Ministry, GCA submitted its request for Host Country Agreement (HCA) status on July 27, 2023, seeking to formalize the establishment and operation of its Nairobi office.
The review process culminated in the signing of Legal Notice No. 82 on April 20, 2025, by the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, officially granting GCA and its internationally recruited staff the requisite privileges and immunities.
This decision was subsequently ratified by Parliament on September 30, 2025, after fulfilling all legal requirements, including stakeholder hearings and public participation as mandated under Section 17 of the Act.
Dr. Sing’oei clarified that the privileges conferred upon the GCA are neither new nor extraordinary.
Since 1984, over 170 non-state entities operating in Kenya have received similar status and benefits.
These organizations include Oxfam, Save the Children, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), International Planned Parenthood Federation, and the Lutheran World Federation, among others.
Such privileges typically include tax exemptions on specific operational goods, legal protection for actions carried out in good faith and work permits for internationally recruited staff.
“These are standard provisions extended to organizations offering technical assistance and contributing to Kenya’s development agenda,” the statement read.
The Ministry reiterated Kenya’s commitment to transparency and international cooperation in advancing sustainable development and climate resilience initiatives.
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