Kennedy Lamwenya
Climate Finance Expert | ESG Reporting | GHG Baseline Surveys | Carbon Projects Originator | Certified Carbon Credits Auditor
Nairobi County
Overview
Work Experience
Execuctive Board Member
2021 - Current
As a Board Member at HSCR-Watch, a regional NGO championing ethical and effective healthcare delivery across East Africa, I have played a pivotal role in guiding the organization's strategic mission to empower citizens and transform health systems. I provide governance oversight & strategic direction to ensure that all programs are evidence-based, rights-centered, and aligned with national and regional health policies. Spearheaded public advocacy campaigns that have educated tens of thousands of citizens about their health rights, enabling greater patient agency and improving healthcare-seeking behavior in underrepresented communities. Working closely with regulatory bodies & healthcare institutions, I have helped develop ethical guidelines that are now referenced by medical associations and professional boards in the region. To promote accountability and transparency, I championed the rollout of a county-level healthcare scorecard system, leveraging citizen feedback and performance data to evaluate facility compliance, ethics, and efficiency. This model has been piloted in five counties, influencing both local budgeting priorities and national policy discourse. Oversaw research initiatives analyzing service quality across public and private health facilities, transforming community-reported data into actionable insights that informed parliamentary health reviews and CSO-led reforms. Under my leadership, HSCR-Watch initiated plans for a model medical center, designed to demonstrate scalable practices in ethical, patient-centered healthcare delivery. Through high-level stakeholder engagement, I’ve cultivated partnerships with government ministries, health professional associations, and private sector actors, successfully mobilizing technical and financial resources to scale our impact. My role continues to be instrumental in driving social accountability frameworks, shaping national discourse on patient rights, and enhancing transparency in healthcare governance.
Carbon Asset Manager-Africa
2024 - 2025
Markets Covered: Kenya | Uganda | Malawi Project Types: ARR – 1.2M Ha Soil Carbon- Sustainable Grazing – 1M Ha Led full-cycle carbon asset development across 2.2 million hectares spanning Kenya, Uganda, and Malawi, managing 1.2M ha of ARR and 1M ha of soil carbon sustainable grazing systems. My role centered on transforming degraded landscapes into high-integrity, investment-grade carbon assets, fully aligned with Verra, Gold Standard, and Article 6 methodologies. Designed integrated MRV systems using remote sensing and field data, improving carbon tracking accuracy by 35% and enabling faster credit validation. I led the structuring of multi-stakeholder carbon credit agreements, aligning technical, financial, and legal frameworks, and securing $40M+ in forward credit commitments from global buyers. Through strategic partnerships with ministries, NGOs, and investors, I embedded projects within national NDCs and climate finance strategies, while coordinating policy-aligned stakeholder engagement across three countries. I provided hands-on support during third-party audits, guiding teams through PDD drafting, ESG compliance, and successful emissions verification. Authored quarterly impact reports for investors, aligning with ESG and regulatory expectations, and developed risk mitigation frameworks responsive to evolving climate policy. Additionally, I conducted due diligence for over $100M in project-linked investments, evaluating financial feasibility, scalability, and credit potential—bridging investment strategy with on-the-ground realities. This work not only accelerated credit issuance timelines but positioned the portfolio among Africa’s earliest Article 6.2-ready carbon ventures, advancing the frontier of nature-based climate finance at scale.
Regional Carbon Projects Specialist- Africa
2021 - 2023
Led the full-cycle development of high-integrity carbon offset projects across Africa, spanning ARR, Clean Cooking, and REDD+ initiatives over thousands of hectares. I ensured end-to-end compliance with Verra (VCS), Gold Standard (GS), and CCB standards, successfully securing credit issuance and elevating project credibility in global carbon markets. Conducted over 15 detailed feasibility assessments, integrating biomass modeling, land use classification, and sequestration analysis to determine viability and risk exposure. My analysis supported the development of 5+ investment-grade PDDs, carbon stock assessments, and MRV frameworks, accelerating the certification process and unlocking new investment pipelines. Built financial models to guide project valuation, estimating carbon revenue over 10–15 year crediting cycles. These models informed investor decisions, boosting ROI projections by up to 45% through optimized methodology selection and co-benefit alignment. Through strategic stakeholder engagement across 8 African countries, I supported governments, NGOs, and researchers in embedding projects into national NDCs and climate finance platforms. I led regulatory dialogues and structured policy-aligned carbon credit pipelines, reinforcing national emissions trading readiness. On the technical side, I leveraged GIS and remote sensing tools to enhance monitoring accuracy and reduce data discrepancies by 70%, directly supporting successful third-party verifications and audit cycles. My work helped shape Africa’s carbon project landscape, accelerating timelines, unlocking investment, and aligning project frameworks with climate policy, community benefit, and investor confidence.
Director of Carbon Projects.
2018 - 2021
Spearheaded the full-cycle development and execution of Rwanda’s largest clean cooking carbon project, directly improving the lives of 2.3 million+ rural households. I led the structuring and deployment of Clean Cooking Emission Reduction (CER) pilots, scaling the initiative into a flagship model of high-impact climate action under Gold Standard and Verra methodologies. Conducted in-depth feasibility assessments to evaluate technical, financial, and climate eligibility, ensuring the project met rigorous offsetting standards. I developed and implemented a robust MRV framework, integrating sensor-based monitoring, stove usage data, and household validation protocols to ensure accurate emissions tracking. This MRV system enhanced reporting integrity, reduced data error margins by 30%, and supported third-party audits that led to the issuance of over 4 million tCO₂e in verified carbon credits. In parallel, I structured innovative financing mechanisms blending donor capital with pre-paid carbon finance, successfully attracting high-value buyers from the voluntary and compliance markets. I led investor due diligence and carbon credit negotiations, securing multi-year commitments that reinforced the financial sustainability of the program. Through cross-functional collaboration with government ministries, donors, NGOs, and local communities, I ensured policy alignment with Rwanda’s NDCs and clean energy strategy. I also championed a gender-inclusive community engagement model, which boosted stove adoption rates to 92% and positioned the project as a global reference for SDG-linked carbon finance. This initiative remains one of Africa’s most recognized examples of results-based climate finance, combining emissions reduction, health impact, and market innovation.
Retail & Partnerships Director.
2015 - 2018
Led the nationwide expansion of retail operations across Rwanda, overseeing end-to-end execution of supply chain systems, P&L management, partner engagement, and customer service delivery. I was responsible for driving revenue growth while ensuring operational efficiency and cost control, directly contributing to the organization’s clean cooking and off-grid energy distribution strategy. Recruited, trained, and managed a high-performing team of 50+ multicultural staff and successfully onboarded and supported over 850 field sales agents. By introducing performance-based training and real-time analytics dashboards, I enhanced sales team productivity across multiple regions. These efforts led to the sale of over 300,000 clean energy products, significantly expanding market penetration in last-mile communities. Under my leadership, store-level operational models were optimized and revenue grew consistently, with weekly sales surpassing targets by 55%. I also led the successful launch of new product lines, pairing demand forecasting with community engagement strategies to drive adoption. Our regional retail network generated over $4M in annual sales revenue, making the unit one of the most profitable within the company’s ecosystem. Implemented a data-driven retail sales strategy that improved forecasting, inventory planning, and customer targeting. This not only enhanced customer satisfaction but also created a sustainable model for clean energy product distribution in emerging markets. I worked cross-functionally with product, logistics, and executive teams to align field operations with strategic business goals. Through a combination of frontline leadership, customer-centric innovation, and smart analytics, I helped transform DelAgua’s retail footprint into a scalable, impact-driven sales engine that delivered both commercial success and social value.
Regional Sales & Partnerships Director
2013 - 2014
Led the execution of a transformative sales strategy that expanded our market footprint across East Africa, streamlined operations, and delivered consistent revenue growth. By optimizing territory structures and enhancing distributor engagement, I reduced T&E costs while significantly improving sales efficiency and customer acquisition across priority regions. Drove new business development, securing long-term partnerships through compelling technical presentations, in-store demonstrations, and product sampling programs. These initiatives led to a 48% annual sales increase, sustained over four consecutive years. I also built and trained distributor sales teams and retail staff, boosting brand visibility and accelerating adoption of clean energy solutions. One of my most impactful achievements was revamping the regional distribution network, expanding from 50 to 300 outlets within just eight months, resulting in a major increase in product accessibility and sales volume. I complemented this with data-driven forecasting and analytics tools, which enabled smarter inventory planning and deeper insights into customer trends. Helped secure $500,000+ in grant funding from the CDFI Fund, facilitating the rollout of solar lighting to 20,000+ rural school pupils, a milestone that aligned commercial growth with educational equity and SDG impact. To future-proof our operations, I co-developed Technology-Enabled Care Collaboration Models, supporting both portfolio diversification and customer lifetime value strategies. My ability to build strategic partnerships, with investors, government stakeholders, and NGOs, ensured 100% client retention and the long-term sustainability of Plexus Energy’s sales and distribution systems.
Sales Manager
2011 - 2012
I successfully led regional product sales growth initiatives, achieving a 40.9% improvement in product mix while surpassing revenue targets by 250%. I managed and optimized field sales operations across 3 territories, overseeing 25 sales representatives and 35 distributor points, ensuring seamless sales execution, strong customer engagement, and sustained market penetration. My role involved extensive travel (up to 60%) to develop sales strategies & enhance distributor relationships, Through strategic cost management, I reduced operational expenses by 35%, increasing overall profitability & efficiency. I played a pivotal role in stock management, distributor coordination, & retail execution, ensuring product availability, effective merchandising, & strong brand presence across key market locations. I also spearheaded store training programs, in-store promotions, point-of-purchase (POP) setups, and new product launches, driving consumer engagement and sales uplift. To support data-driven decision-making, I prepared & presented in-depth sales revenue analyses, financial performance ratings, & marketing impact reports to the Head of Sales on a quarterly basis. These insights guided business growth strategies, pricing adjustments, and market expansion plans, reinforcing the company’s competitive position. Key Achievements ✔️ Surpassed revenue targets by 250% while reducing costs by 35%, optimizing profitability and operational efficiency. ✔️ Led a 40.9% increase in product mix, strengthening market share and category leadership. ✔️ Managed and developed a high-performing sales team, ensuring sustained distributor growth and sales execution across three key territories. ✔️ Implemented data-driven sales strategies, improving forecasting, financial analysis, and market responsiveness. My expertise in regional sales leadership, business development, and revenue growth strategies enabled me to drive market expansion, distributor engagement, and long-term sales success.
Direct Sales Account Manager
2010 - 2010
Led a high-performing sales team in the highly competitive Pay TV market, driving customer acquisition, brand growth, and revenue acceleration. Managing a team of 20 sales professionals, I introduced coaching programs and performance tracking systems that boosted individual productivity and overall team output. Launched new product line extensions and optimized sales workflows, resulting in a 45% increase in team revenue. To enhance customer lifetime value, I developed retention strategies that achieved an 85% retention rate per sale, far exceeding company benchmarks. By aligning brand messaging, pricing strategy, and customer experience, I played a central role in delivering a 133% year-over-year sales increase. I also led tactical business reviews with senior management, using real-time data to adjust distribution targets, pricing models, and go-to-market strategies. My relentless strategic sales efforts resulted in over 100% monthly sales growth, culminating in the sale of 60,000+ set-top boxes annually, which helped solidify Smart TV’s market dominance. For seven consecutive months, I led the top-performing sales team nationwide, earning us the CEO’s 2010 Masai Mara Team Excellence Award. Reinforced our competitive edge through in-store activations, targeted marketing campaigns, and hands-on distributor engagement. These initiatives directly boosted sales conversions and brand equity across both urban and peri-urban markets. My leadership not only delivered exceptional revenue outcomes but also fostered a culture of accountability, innovation, and sustained high performance, laying a foundation for long-term market success.
Financial Advisor –Insurance Cover& investment Products.
2007 - 2009
Built and scaled a high-value portfolio of individual and corporate clients, delivering tailored insurance, investment, and pension solutions that drove both short-term sales success and long-term client retention. By applying a relationship-first, consultative approach, I positioned myself as a trusted advisor, guiding clients through complex financial decisions and consistently exceeding sales targets. Executed a high-volume prospecting strategy, averaging 60–80 cold calls daily, converting these into 5–10 client meetings weekly, and closing six or more new sales deals each week. My commitment to financial literacy led me to educate clients on a wide range of insurance and investment options, including variable life insurance and mutual funds—ensuring well-informed, goal-aligned decisions. To deepen engagement, I developed and implemented personalized financial planning models using the Financial Goal Analysis tool, integrating risk profiling, asset allocation, and future income planning. This approach strengthened long-term portfolio stability and expanded product uptake across medical, life, and retirement benefits. Played a key role in driving recurring business, trust, and cross-sell opportunities, resulting in over 653 closed sales within two years, significantly expanding the firm's market footprint. I was recognized among Kenya’s Top 100 Insurance Sales Agents for two consecutive years by the Association of Insurance Sales Agents (AISA), a testament to my sales leadership and client impact.
Education
Carbon Project Developer Training.
2019 - 2019
Certified Carbon Management Leader (CCML)
2018 - 2019
KCSE GRADE A-
2003 - 2006