Global Compact Network Kenya

What does it take to build a business that lasts?

The Growth & Sustainability Accelerator for SMEs, a partnership between Global Compact Network Kenya and the Transformational Business Network Africa, is a six-month, practice-driven programme for growth-stage companies ready to scale responsibly.

It addresses the core pillars of business resilience: strategy, systems, leadership, finance, and ESG. This is not a classroom programme. It is structured support built around real business challenges.

Participants can expect six full-day bootcamps, monthly one-on-one implementation coaching, live masterclasses, practical toolkits, a graduation showcase, and a certificate of completion.

The participation fee is KES 60,000 + VAT per company.

▪ View the full curriculum here: https://tinyurl.com/AcceleratorCurriculum
▪ To register: tinyurl.com/SMEGrowthAccelerator

For enquiries, contact [email protected] or call us on +254 795 625 874 / +254 769 300 400.

Delivering the keynote address at the ECOTOURISM KENYA Sustainable Tourism Forum 2026, Global Compact Network Kenya Executive Director Ms. Judy Njino set the tone for the two-day convening running 4 and 5 June in Nairobi, bringing together business, conservation, government, communities and civil society to strengthen the sustainability, human rights and conservation foundations of Kenya's tourism sector.

Ms. Njino anchored her address in the words of the late Professor Wangari Maathai: "𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻." It is a call that speaks directly to the heart of what sustainable tourism must deliver.

She noted that Kenya's tourism sector is at a defining moment, welcoming record international visitors and generating significant economic contribution. But as she made clear, growth alone is not the goal. The real question is whether Kenya is growing in a way that is responsible, inclusive and resilient over the long term.

Ms. Njino challenged the forum's delegates to reimagine tourism not merely as an economic sector, but as a relationship with communities, culture and biodiversity. She called on tourism businesses to prioritize decent work and fair labor practices across their value chains, build genuine community partnerships rooted in benefit-sharing and land rights, and embed accountable leadership that goes beyond sustainability statements into real systems, transparency and stakeholder engagement.

At Global Compact Network Kenya, we are proud to walk alongside the tourism sector in translating the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights into practical, sector-relevant action. The businesses that recognize that Kenya's landscapes, wildlife and culture belong first to its people, and lead accordingly, are the ones building tourism that lasts.

The forum continues tomorrow, 5 June 2026. We look forward to the partnerships and solutions that will emerge.

Waste in Africa is no longer just a municipal problem. It is a business issue, a supply chain issue, a resource efficiency issue, and one that technology is increasingly being asked to solve.

On 3 June, Global Compact Network Kenya joined Day 1 of the Africa Waste Is Wealth Summit III (AWWS III), convened by TakaTaka Ni Mali in Nairobi. The summit runs from 3 to 5 June and brings together policymakers, investors, innovators, and industry practitioners to accelerate Africa's transition toward integrated, investment-ready circular economy systems.

Stephen Kimenye, Program Manager at Global Compact Network Kenya, took part in the Pillar 1 discussion on Technology and Digital Innovation in Waste Systems, contributing to the session on Leveraging Smart Technologies for System Efficiency.

The discussion explored five dimensions through which technology can strengthen Africa's waste systems:
▪ Improving visibility across the waste value chain through digital tracking and reporting platforms
▪ Driving operational efficiency through route optimization, GPS tracking, and IoT-enabled smart infrastructure
▪ Strengthening circular value chains by improving sorting, material traceability, and aggregation systems
▪ Supporting performance management through data analytics that inform ESG, climate, and extended producer responsibility reporting
▪ Building investment readiness through credible digital monitoring, reporting, and verification systems

A critical point raised in the session: technology that is not affordable, locally relevant, or backed by viable business models will struggle to deliver at scale. Worse, it risks leaving out the informal and community-level actors who are central to how waste moves across African cities.

The conversation at AWWS III reflects a broader shift in how the private sector must engage with waste, not as a compliance obligation, but as a systems challenge that requires long-term investment, smarter infrastructure, and inclusive design.

Global Compact Network Kenya remains committed to bringing that perspective into spaces where it can shape decisions.

Sustainability is fast becoming the defining pillar of global industry, and tourism is no exception. As businesses embed responsible practices across their value chains, corporate responsibility has never been more critical.

We are pleased to share that our Executive Director, Judy Njino, will serve as a Keynote Speaker at the 2026 Ecotourism Kenya Sustainable Tourism Forum. She will speak on “Strengthening Business, Conservation and Human Rights in Tourism,” highlighting how companies can align their operations with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Date: 4th–5th June 2026
Venue: Pullman Nairobi, Upperhill (Day 1) & Gatura Greens, Murang’a (Day 2)
Register: https://ecotourismkenya.org/estf/

Hosted by Ecotourism Kenya, the Forum will bring together business leaders, conservation actors, policymakers and communities to explore practical pathways for a tourism sector that is competitive, inclusive and nature-positive.

Today, Judy Njino, Executive Director of Global Compact Network Kenya, hosted a high-level briefing on road safety with Jean Todt, United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety and former CEO of Ferrari. The engagement brought together a distinguished delegation from the United Nations Office for Project Services to explore how Kenya can accelerate road safety action through stronger leadership, policy coherence, private sector commitment and action.

The session highlighted road safety as both a human rights and sustainable development imperative, touching on behavior change, enforcement, safer transport systems, improved data, and the critical role of business in tackling preventable deaths and injuries on our roads. It also underscored the need for focused attention on high-risk road users including motorcyclists and pedestrians coupled with long-term, coordinated action across government, the private sector, and civil society to halve road traffic deaths and injuries in line with global targets.

We were especially pleased to have been joined by one of our United Nations Global Compact participant companies, Isuzu East Africa, represented by Dancan Muhindi. Through its investments in driver training, road safety education, and safer vehicles, Isuzu East Africa is demonstrating how companies can integrate road safety into core business strategy and community initiatives, contributing directly to national road safety goals. Their experience reinforced the message that responsible transport and logistics companies have a powerful role to play in shifting driving culture and saving lives.

As the largest United Nations Global Compact country network in Africa, Global Compact Network Kenya remains committed to convening influential voices, surfacing practical solutions, and steering the private sector toward measurable, collective impact on road safety. We are grateful to Jean Todt and his delegation for this substantive exchange and for their continued leadership in advancing safer roads for all, and we look forward to translating today’s dialogue into concrete partnerships and programmes that deliver real change.

This morning, Global Compact Network Kenya held the Social Sustainability Working Group Leaders Breakfast Dialogue, bringing together private sector, government, civil society, and national commissions to discuss strategies to advance social sustainability in Kenya.

Executive Director Judy Njino set the context highlighting the importance of social sustainability in Africa and Kenya as foundational to long-term economic growth and stability. Questions around decent work, inclusion, equity, human rights, and community trust remain critical pillars of responsible business conduct which must move from compliance to intentional business strategy, shaping how companies create value, build resilience, and sustain their social license to operate.

The panel, moderated by Stephen Kimenye, Program Manager at Global Compact Network Kenya, brought together perspectives that revealed both gaps and opportunities.

Lawrence Muiruri, Deputy Solicitor General at the State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, emphasized government's commitment to partnering with the private sector in key legislative processes such as the review of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. He highlighted the Working Group's role in translating commitments into practical guidance and bridging state expectations with business realities.

Catherine Gitobu, Managing Director at CKL Africa Ltd, shared their sustainability journey since joining the UN Global Compact in 2015. Highlighting the role of values based leadership in achieving business growth, operational excellence and social impact. CKL Africa has embedded wins into practice: providing lunch for employees, establishing daycare facilities, and implementing mentorship programs that have directly boosted business productivity. Her honesty about ongoing challenges set the tone for collaboration.

John Nzioka Nzomo, Senior Programs Officer at the National Gender and Equality Commission, offered practical pathways for achieving gender and disability targets through capacity support coupled with phased, negotiated approaches that are realistic and measurable.

Ruth Getobai, Deputy Director at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, brought hard truths. Labor rights violations remain the dominant category of complaints against businesses. The disconnect: good policies on paper, inadequate grievance mechanisms in practice. Companies have commitments at leadership level, but the gap widens at implementation, especially among those interfacing with suppliers, contractors, and communities. Her message: empower workers and communities, make grievance reporting mechanisms accessible, and stop treating community consultation as box-ticking.

Participants from across sectors reinforced the call to move from dialogue to implementation, emphasizing shared learning, honest accounting of successes and failures, and the need for practical tools to embed social sustainability into daily operations.

The Social Sustainability Working Group is making that shift, building a coordinated Kenya ecosystem on business and human rights that turns commitments into action.

Global Compact Network Kenya, led by Board Chairperson and CEO of Absa Bank Kenya Abdi Mohamed, held an introductory meeting with the new UN Resident Coordinator to Kenya, Garry Conille. The meeting, which was also attended by Board Member and CEO of MP Shah Hospital Dr. Toseef Din Msc,FCCA, CPA(K),Bsc and Executive Director Judy Njino, formally welcomed Mr. Conille to the Board of Global Compact Network Kenya and explored opportunities to strengthen collaboration between the private sector and the UN system in advancing Kenya’s sustainable development agenda.

Discussions underscored the critical role of the private sector not only as an engine of economic growth, but also as a strategic partner in development through investment, innovation, job creation, responsible business conduct, and delivery of sustainable solutions to national challenges. The meeting further highlighted the importance of deepening private sector participation in the design and implementation of Kenya’s UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework to ensure stronger alignment between national development priorities, business action, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The engagement also emphasized the need to better document, quantify, and communicate the contribution of the private sector to Kenya’s development outcomes, including its role in advancing sustainability, strengthening resilience, mobilizing financing, and supporting inclusive economic growth. Both parties reaffirmed the value of the United Nations Global Compact as a platform for convening business leadership and fostering collective action between the UN system, government, and the private sector.

Less than a week left to sign up to join the 2026 Target Gender Equality Accelerator cohort and turn your gender equality ambitions into measurable business results.

- Set and refine ambitious targets for women’s representation, leadership and equal pay
- Identify gaps and opportunities using the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Gender Gap Analysis Tool
- Access expert guidance, practical tools and capacity building sessions
- Learn alongside peer companies and share real world solutions that work

Applications close on 31 May: https://unglobalcompact.org/take-action/target-gender-equality

Today, Global Compact Network Kenya officially welcomed Trans Business Machines Ltd to the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative.

The milestone was marked during a Certificate Handover and Management Onboarding session held at TBM's offices. Executive Director Judy Njino was represented by Mary Waweru, Participant Engagement Manager, in formalizing TBM's participation in the global movement for responsible business.

TBM joins over 25,000 businesses across 160+ countries that have committed to aligning their strategies and operations with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact in the areas of human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption.

During the session, the TBM management team engaged with the Secretariat on ESG fundamentals, Communication on Progress obligations, and the programmes and accelerators available to participants.

As a technology company, TBM is well positioned to advance responsible business through digital inclusion, green ICT, and responsible digital governance, proving that doing business well and doing business responsibly go hand in hand.

We applaud TBM's intentionality and look forward to walking this sustainability journey with them.

Welcome to the network, TBM!

Growth-stage SMEs are generating revenue but many are still held back by weak systems, inconsistent cashflow and no clear roadmap for what comes next.

Global Compact Network Kenya, in partnership with Transformational Business Network Africa, is now accepting applications for the Growth & Sustainability Accelerator for SMEs 2026, a 6 month, practice driven programme for growth stage SMEs ready to scale responsibly.

Want to see the full curriculum? Download it here: tinyurl.com/AcceleratorCurriculum

Over 6 months, you will:
▪ Attend 6 full day in person bootcamps from June to November 2026
▪ Get monthly 1 on 1 implementation coaching between bootcamps
▪ Learn from experienced executives, founders and financiers through live masterclasses
▪ Use practical toolkits and templates to build financial models, SOPs, governance structures and an ESG roadmap
▪ Present your business at a final showcase forum to banks, corporates, buyers and ecosystem partners

Walk away equipped to:
▪ Execute a clear scale and market expansion roadmap
▪ Put stronger governance, risk and compliance structures in place
▪ Manage cashflow with greater discipline and access funding pathways
▪ Position your business as a responsible, ESG-aligned organisation built for long term resilience

Participation fee: KES 60,000 plus VAT per company
Format: Hybrid, in person bootcamps and virtual coaching

Apply here: tinyurl.com/SMEGrowthAccelerator

Have questions? Reach us at [email protected]
Phone: +254 795 625 874 | +254 769 300 400

Fill | SME Growth & Sustainability Accelerator Registration Form The Growth & Sustainability Accelerator is designed for operational, growth-stage SMEs, not early-stage business ideas or startups at concept stage. Estimated completion time: 5–8 minutes.