NCTTCA Executive Secretary John Deng and UNEP's Rob de Jong after signing the funding agreement in Nairobi on July, 6 2026. [Collins Oduor, Standard]
The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) has secured fresh funding from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to accelerate the transition to cleaner freight transport.
The funding agreement will support the implementation of the Northern Corridor Green Freight Strategy 2030 through greenhouse gas emissions tracking, a study on the electrification of operations at the Port of Mombasa and programmes aimed at increasing women's participation in the freight transport sector.
Although UNEP's latest contribution amounts to about $200,000 (ShSh 25.8 million), the programme has already mobilised approximately $1.6 million (Sh207 million) from development partners, including Germany's development agency (GIZ) and the Kühne Climate Centre.
Officials say the funding is expected to unlock further investments needed to modernise freight transport across the region.
The Northern Corridor is East Africa's main trade artery, linking the Port of Mombasa with Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while also serving Ethiopia and Somalia.
The corridor handles an estimated 75,000 tonnes of cargo daily, transported by between 2,000 and 3,000 trucks, making it one of the busiest freight networks on the continent.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, NCTTCA Executive Secretary John Deng said the authority's role has evolved beyond facilitating trade to ensuring that regional economic growth is environmentally sustainable.