Nestled in Oloropil, Kajiado West Subcounty, 45 kilometers from Nairobi on Magadi Road the AGNES Centre of Excellence for Climate Leadership rises against a breathtaking backdrop of expansive plains and towering Ngong hills. Once, this landscape was dotted with Maasai herders guiding their cattle across lush pastures. Today, the scene has dramatically changed. The once-green plains are parched, and livestock are few and far between, victims of relentless droughts, erratic rainfall, and flash floods. The land, once teeming with life, now tells a story of unpredictable future and struggle against climate change.
Diagrammatic representation of the Jael Vike Climate Research and Leadership Institute
Why Kajiado? The Climate Crisis at Ground Zero
Kajiado County which is located in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) has long been in the headlines for the adverse effects of climate change. Locals have been grappling with relentless droughts, flash floods, and the loss of pasture that threaten the livelihoods of pastoralist communities. For instance, in 2023/2024 thousands of livestock died and those that survived the drought were swept away by flash floods that followed. As these challenges intensify as exacerbated by the wide spreading of invasive species especially Prosopsis juliflora (Mathenge) and Ipomoea weed which are chocking pasturelands, the urgency for local solutions has never been greater. In response, the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) is set to establish the AGNES Centre of Excellence for Climate Research and Leadership—the first initiative of its kind in Africa—dedicated to bridging the gap between science-policy-practice.
The Jael Vike Climate Research and Leadership Institute is named after AGNES’ former Director and Local Representative in Kenya the late Advocate Jael Vike Ludeki (MHSRIEP).
Purpose of the Centre
The Centre will serve as a living laboratory where global climate experts collaborate with local communities to develop practical and locally-led climate solutions. It will be at the forefront of driving climate research and training through postgraduate programs, including PhD, Master’s, and Diploma courses in climate science, environmental sustainability, and climate finance, equipping the next generation of climate leaders and decision makers. Community engagement will be central to its mission, fostering collaboration between scientists and local communities to co-create practical solutions. In addition, the Centre will offer short courses and master classes on critical topics—such as carbon markets, nature-based solutions, and climate justice. Technological advancement will be at the Centre’s programmes, in particular application of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in climate change efforts.
Contacts: For more information contact Communications and Outreach Officer, African Group of Negotiators Expert Support (AGNES), f.langat@agnesafrica.org / +254 726900824
