Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project Achieves Major Milestone with First Carbon Credit Issuance

Carbon credits sales create avenues for all to support local farmers integrating  sustainable practices, earning income, and restoring soil health

Verra has now officially issued the first VCUs, or verified carbon credits units, to the Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project. This milestone issuance rewards over 30,000 smallholder farmers with carbon finance for adopting sustainable farming practices that remove carbon from the atmosphere, increase crop yields and enhance local agricultural resilience. High-quality carbon credits from the Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project are now available through First Climate.

All images: © Soil Carbon Certification Services (SCCS)

As previously reported, the Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project started in 2019,and is  managed by the Soil Carbon Certification Services (SCCS), a not-for-profit social enterprise based in Kisumu, Kenya. In 2023, SCCS, the carbon project management team, entered into a strategic partnership with First Climate to leverage carbon finance to safeguard the stability of the project. Initially, First Climate provided critical bridge funding to sustain on-the-ground activities ahead of the project’s first carbon credit issuance of nearly 58,000 t CO2 e, which have been already issued by Verra from vintages originating between 2019 and 2022.

Empowering Farmers, Enhancing Soils

Across 3 Kenyan counties of Siaya, Kakamega and Bungoma, the project already includes around 9,086 ha of smallholder farms applying Sustainable Agricultural Land Management (SALM) practices. These techniques and trainings—including intercropping, composting, reduced tillage, agroforestry and the use of cover crops—have led to measurable increases in soil organic carbon, improved water conservation, and enhanced biodiversity. The adoption of SALM not only boosts crop yields but also strengthens resilience against climate change impacts.

“By strengthening training and extension services in sustainable agricultural land management practices, courtesy of carbon finance, we are empowering farmers, both women and men, to make informed and sustainable farming decisions, leading to increased productivity, higher crop yields, enhanced farmer resilience against climate shocks. Carbon financing further supports diversified income possibilities for farming families while at the same time contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and fighting climate change,” says Fred Marani, Technical Director at SCCS.

Project-related specialized training and extension services enable the participating farmers to have access to the latest SALM techniques and knowledge.

Carbon Credits: A New Revenue Stream

The issuance of carbon credits is a demonstration of the project's success in sequestering carbon through improved land management. These credits provide an additional income stream for participating farmers, enabling further investment in sustainable practices and contributing to improved livelihoods. The revenue generated also supports ongoing farmer-focused training and extension services, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the project's benefits.

Local markets provide selling opportunities and additional income sources for participating farmers.

“This milestone is more than just an accounting of carbon—it’s recognition of the hard work, innovation, and commitment of thousands of farmers who are proving that climate solutions can start from the ground up,” says Lina Ávila, Carbon Project Manager at First Climate. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see these communities and smallholder famers benefit directly from their unique and self-motivated role in climate change mitigation.”

The generated carbon credits, which have been verified by Verra, provide a new, performance-based income stream—rewarding farmers for building soil health and drawing down atmospheric carbon. As more local producers adopt SALM practices, the potential to scale both climate impact and rural livelihoods grows exponentially.  

“At SCCS, the issuance of Verra-verified carbon credits is a tremendous marker in our efforts to scale sustainable land management. These credits don’t just represent atmospheric carbon removals—they represent a long-term revenue stream for enhancing agricultural advisory services for women, men and young farmers. Additionally, this serves as a viable mechanism for sustained climate action. With Verra’s rigorous standards for the first instance project verification behind us, we can bring more transparency and measurable impact to global carbon markets, enabling more farming communities to become active participants in the global carbon economy,” states Marani.

Climate-Smart Agriculture

The Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project is a model for integrating climate action with community-driven agricultural development. By aligning environmental stewardship with economic incentives, the project demonstrates the potential of carbon finance to drive positive change in rural communities. The project’s success underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing global challenges such as climate change, gender equality, poverty, and food security.

For more information about the Western Kenya Soil Carbon Project and how you can support its impact, contact First Climate carbon experts at impact@firstclimate.com.