Indigenous communities in Kenya have rejected attempts to restart a carbon credit project that has been plagued by controversy. The project, which aims to generate carbon credits through forest conservation, has faced opposition from local groups who say they were not properly consulted and that the benefits have not reached them. The rejection highlights ongoing tensions in the voluntary carbon market around land rights and community consent. This case is a reminder that carbon credit projects cannot succeed without the free, prior, and informed consent of the people who live on the land. Developers and buyers of carbon credits need to pay closer attention to community engagement and benefit sharing. The outcome in Kenya could set a precedent for similar projects across Africa.
