Ashden Awards welcomes Kenya\u2019s Sokofresh and Kakuma ventures as the newest winners of its prestigious awards, which recognizes the world\u2019s most innovative initiatives implementing clean and accessible energy and natural climate solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ashden Awards winners, judges, presenters, keynote speakers, and hosts, pose for a picture, over the concluding ceremony and recognition of the winners of the 2022 Ashden Award Ceremony, in Nairobi, Kenya on October 27th<\/sup>. PHOTO\/ Philip Biwott.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nairobi\u2019s Movenpick hotel was the chosen location for the first-ever ASHDEN Award ceremony to be held on African soil. The full-capacity evening event, which started from 6 pm to 9 pm (EAT) was buzzing with excitement from start to finish\u2014not just over the inclusion of well- deserving clean energy trailblazers and speakers who captivated the audience with moving speeches, but also the pomp, the color, music, lights, and fireworks, which washed over the room every time the winner was announced. Cheers, foot tapping, and laughter added flavor to the vibrant scene.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ASHDEN Awards<\/u><\/a> has honored and supported climate innovation in the UK and developing countries since 2001. To earn Ashden Award, an innovator must show an uncompromising devotion to delivering innovative and scalable climate solutions to the journey to zero carbon. Today, the awards represent more than 240 innovators around the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, on October 27th<\/sup>, the African climate smart Innovators showed the world that they have been going beyond the fundamentals of excellence in their quest to provide clean energy to their community. Four out of the six winners from the Global South are from African countries \u2013 two from Kenya, and the others from Togo, and Zimbabwe. Between them they took away Ashden awards 2022\u2019 prizes for improving farmers’ access to clean energy, transforming refugees\u2019 livelihoods, or training people for jobs linked to renewable energy technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe brought the Ashden Award from London to Kenya, because it is such a hub of inspiration, we keep having winners from Africa, who are not only coming up with climate-smart innovations, and equally important, these innovations are able to reach and serve, vulnerable community,\u201d said Harriet Lamb, the CEO of Ashden, adding that \u00a0\u201cWe are glad to share these inspirational stories here and also get a chance to showcase the same at the \u2018African COP\u2019 (COP27) and say, here are the positive solution now get the finance behind them, to empower their scale up and spread up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Harriet Lamb, the CEO of Ashden speaks at the start of the Award Ceremony. October 27, 2022. PHOTO\/Philip Biwott.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfrican COP<\/u><\/a>\u2019 – is the endearing term being used, by climate advocates around the globe to refer to the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC), which is holding its annual 27th<\/sup> meeting in Egypt. This Conference brings together members<\/u><\/a> from 197 countries who are the signatories of the Paris Agreement<\/u><\/a> on combating climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Conference of Parties 27 (COP27) formally kicked off on Sunday 5TH<\/sup>,2022 at Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt\/ @statehousekenya (twitter)<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UNCCC is a summit that brings together Civil society, scientists, and policymakers who either observe or participate in negotiations that will determine the fate of Climate outcomes for generations to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Ashden award winners\u2019 inspiring innovations, come at a time when the globe is calling for the Just Energy Transition Plan. A report<\/u><\/a>\u00a0published by the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNCCC) indicates that ambitious climate action is urgently needed for the world to be able to cut 45% of CO2 emissions by 2030, to meet the central Paris Agreement goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a crucial step, to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts and unreliable rainfall, that Kenya is today heavily affected by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe would like to inspire other entrepreneurs, who have ideas that can solve the challenges that we are facing as a society because an individual cannot solve these challenges, we need a huge alliance of entrepreneurs,\u201d said Denis Karema, the CEO of SokoFresh<\/u><\/a>\u00a0and the 2022 Ashden Award winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SokoFresh helps farmers reduce post-harvest losses through solar-powered cold storage and market linkages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deputy British high commissioner Julius Court presents the 2022 Ashden Award plaque to Denis Karema, the CEO of Sokofresh. October 27, 2022. PHOTO\/ Philip Biwott.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is the night of the displaced,\u201d said Innocent Tshilomba while accepting his award. Tshilomba, another Ashden Award winner, is the Co-founder and Managing director of Kakuma Venture<\/u><\/a> which was recognized for bringing internet access to people in refugee camps using clean energy, creating jobs, and boosting education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said that \u201cI hope this award shows people that we the refugees have something to contribute to society. We do not sit back and rely on aid indefinitely. We have the capability to empower ourselves and in the same effort empower others.\u201d adding that \u201cKakuma Ventures, is not just providing digital access to the refugees, it is giving them hope, giving them access to education and life skill, which will shape a community of hope for a better tomorrow\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The steering committee member from Global Refugee Led Network, Amer Alkayed presents the 2022 Ashden Award plaque to Innocent Tshilomba, the Co-founder and Managing director of Kakuma Venture, on October 27, 2022. PHOTO\/Philip Biwott.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAdd to that impeccable win by a refugee who found a solution from scratch, with little to no funding and with struggles surrounding the refugees, then raise up to be a great employer providing jobs and educational opportunity for the community, and it becomes obvious why tonight winners are so deserving of this award,” said Amer Alkayed Steering Committee Member from Global Refugee Led Network who was among the judging panel of Ashden awards 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alkayed, who is a refugee himself said that \u201cWe have been going around the world, collecting voices of the refugees, which we intend to share with the international policymakers at the COP27. The displaced community wants to let the world know what is affecting them and the type of solutions they want to see, and to be allowed to actively participate in the solution making,\u201d noting that \u201cOur motto is – Nothing for us, without us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kenya’s Kakuma Venture<\/u><\/a> and SokoFresh<\/u><\/a> are among the over 45 member organizations, that have joined hands to form Power up<\/u><\/a> \u2014 a coalition campaign with an aim of amplifying African Voices, as they call for climate adaptation funding to support wider access to affordable, clean energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Energy Generation<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/a>, Togo – a ground-breaking training center empowering entrepreneurs to create solutions for Africans by Africans \u2013 sparking opportunities for women and Zonful Energy<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> Zimbabwe – providing training in the solar sector for rural young people, through collaboration with colleges and NGOs, alongside connections to job, are the two other 2022 Ashden awards winners’ organization, who are members of Power up campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 out of 4 African Ashden Awards winners, 2022, hold their plaques for a photo, over the concluding ceremony and recognition Ceremony, in Nairobi, Kenya, October 27th<\/sup>. PHOTO\/ Philip Biwott<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnergy access and government climate finance must be put at the heart of these crucial climate negotiations. Nations in the global South need finance to support clean and accessible renewable energy,\u201d said Lamb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ashden CEO\u2019s remarks, come at a time, when a report<\/u><\/a>\u00a0from the African development bank group<\/u><\/a>\u00a0says that\u00a0\u201cOver 640 million Africans have no access to energy, corresponding to an electricity access rate for African countries at just over 40 percent, the lowest in the world.\u201d adding that \u201cInsufficient energy access manifests itself in hundreds of thousands of deaths annually due to the use of wood-burning stoves for cooking; handicaps the operations of hospitals and emergency services; compromises educational attainment; and drives up the cost of doing business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report further notes that \u201cEnergy access for all is, therefore,<\/em> one of the key drivers of inclusive growth as it creates opportunities for women, youths, and children both in urban and rural areas.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking at the UN Cop 27 climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, President William Ruto said \u201cKenya, a country with far fewer resources than the average developed country, has foregone polluting industrialization and growth opportunities and intentionally invested in clean, green energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It must be recalled that Kenya has tremendous hydrocarbon and coal deposits which would go a long way in fueling the engines of development. Nevertheless, due to resolute commitment, our electricity grid is 93% green,\u201d adding, \u201cI am convinced of the need to more comprehensively showcase the opportunities that abound in Africa, such as green energy, smart agriculture, de-carbonized manufacturing, e-mobility and green building, all aimed at the attainment of zero carbon by 2050.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ruto, speaking on behalf of the African Group, further urged the delegates from the Global North (developed countries) to stop stalling on their pledge to a collective goal of mobilizing USD 100 billion per year by 2020 to help developing countries address the impacts of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n President William Ruto speaking to the delegates at the United Nations COP27 climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. November, 7th<\/sup>\u00a02022\/ @statehousekenya (Twitter)<\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The President’s speech came hours after his conversation with Rishi Sunak, the newly appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), on the sidelines of the climate conference COP27, where it was announced that Kenya and the UK, have agreed to fast-track six projects worth KES 500 billion to accelerate the flow of climate finance into Kenya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/kassfm.co.ke\/digital\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/1-1.jpg\")
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