Abstract
Countries are seeking ways to mitigate and/or adapt to climate change. If this search involves establishing, advocating for, and/or leveraging climate finance so be it. Kenya is no different. This article, which draws on the game theory and media framing, posits that Kenya’s dual climate finance posture is a necessary strategic gamble. It examines Kenya’s recent global and national rhetoric on climate finance in general, and ‘loss and damage’ in particular – to establish the country’s current climate financing posture. Employing interdisciplinary, mixed methods approaches, it scans literature on climate change, and climate financing. It also utilizes Meltwater (an artificial intelligence-powered, big data, media monitoring application), generating 1,300 English, online print media articles on public discourse on ‘loss and damage’ in Kenya. It finds, among other key preliminary findings, that Kenya is burning both sides of the climate finance candle to advance her national interests. As the viability and strategic value of this dual climate finance posture in this endeavor is unestablished, only time will tell whether Kenya’s current approach will buttress the economy, and deliver and sustain climate resilient dividends for the country. One of the article’s recommendations for sustained climate action (mitigation, adaptation, and advocacy) is increased, inclusive, comprehensive citizen-private sector-government partnerships.