Kenya, Germany host Eastern Africa's first green hydrogen symposium in Nairobi

Kenya and Germany have launched the first Eastern Africa Regional Green Hydrogen Symposium in Nairobi, opening a rare forum to chart a shared green hydrogen agenda across borders.

The event, attended by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, kicked off on Wednesday, May 14, at the Pullman Hotel.

="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001475578/kenya-has-potential-to-become-a-leading-green-hydrogen-exporter">It brought together over 250 delegates from government, private sector, academia and civil society across Eastern Africa

Wandayi described the forum as a timely step toward building a continental hydrogen economy rooted in African solutions.

“Green hydrogen offers us a path to power clean industries, produce sustainable fertilisers and create jobs for our youth,” he said, adding, “It’s time to move from talk to action.”

Germany, which is backing the event through its development cooperation agency GIZ, reaffirmed its commitment to Eastern Africa’s green transition, announcing a Sh14 billion (€100 million) investment through the Climate and Development Partnership with Kenya.

“Germany is proud to support Eastern Africa’s journey toward a green hydrogen economy,” said Sebastian Groth, German Ambassador to Kenya, Somalia and Seychelles.

“We believe the region can play a critical role in global decarbonisation,” he added.

The two-day symposium is co-hosted by Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in partnership with the East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (EACREEE).

 Also supporting the event are the European Union and a range of private sector players.

Principal Secretary for Energy, Alex Wachira, said hydrogen development is being embedded in the country’s new draft National Energy Policy.

“We are aligning our policy, infrastructure and investment strategies to position Kenya—and the wider Eastern Africa region—as leaders in green hydrogen,” said Wachira.

The symposium includes high-level ministerial sessions, investment showcases and technical panels on regulation, financing and cross-border collaboration.

Delegates from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi are also present.

A pre-symposium series included a gender roundtable on women in green hydrogen, a shipping session focused on decarbonising maritime logistics, and a matchmaking event linking developers with potential funders.

EACREEE and GIZ are expected to announce a new programme to scale up hydrogen development across the East African Community.

Wandayi urged all delegates to leave the symposium with concrete action points and partnerships, not just declarations.

“Let this be the moment Eastern Africa moves from potential to progress,” he said.