Nasra Nanda has been appointed Built Environment Lead at the Office of Kenya’s Special Envoy for Climate Change in the Executive Office of the President.
Nanda announced her appointment on November 5, describing the position as a first-of-its-kind globally and a reflection of the government’s commitment to integrating the built environment into climate action.
“ I am honored to take on the role of Built Environment Lead at the Office of Kenya’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, Executive Office of the President, Republic of Kenya — a first-of-its-kind appointment globally, reflecting the Government of Kenya’s commitment to placing the built environment at the heart of climate action.
In her new role, Nasra will focus on safety, regulatory compliance, climate resilience, and environmental stewardship in the built environment.
Additionally, Nasra will support job creation, investment, and the implementation of Kenya’s climate commitments.
According to Nasra, the recent building failures in the country call for intervention, and sustainable development must protect lives, restore nature, and build communities that are safe, resilient, and sustainable.
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Who Is Nasra Nanda?
Nasra Nanda is a Kenyan lawyer and sustainability professional with a career in legal practice, public service, urban development, and environmental advocacy.
She is the Chief Executive Officer and ESG Lead at the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS), where she oversees organizational strategy and partnerships with government agencies, private-sector players, and international development institutions.
According to Nanda at KGBS, she helped develop Africa’s first subnational portfolio of IFC EDGE-certified public buildings, comprising four buildings in Mombasa County.
Nasra also chairs the Africa Regional Network of the World Green Building Council, representing more than 15 national green building councils in international policy forums, including COP28, COP29 and the World Urban Forum.
She was reappointed Chair of the organization’s Africa Regional Network in 2025.
Nanda began her career in public service at the Mombasa Governor’s Office, where she worked on policy development and implementation before moving into legal practice.
Later, she worked with Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews, where she contributed to the firm’s global ESG practice and its corporate commercial, real estate, and environment and natural resources teams.
She trained in law at the University of Nairobi and later undertook ESG specialization training through the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Nasra is also the founder of the Sumud Foundation, which focuses on coastal heritage and blue economy resilience, and is writing a forthcoming book titled Sustainability from the South: The Urban Agenda in Africa.
Her Role in Nairobi County Government
Nanda has also served as a special elected member of the Nairobi City County Assembly, where she has worked on sustainability, urban planning, and social justice.
In 2024, she chaired the County Assembly’s Planning Sub-Committee addressing issues affecting urban development, including flooding, infrastructure and vulnerable communities.
She also served as a technical assistant in the national task force on the re-engineering and transformation of urban development in Kenya.
Her county-level policy work included championing the Nairobi City County Climate Change Act, 2024, which provides a framework for climate action and access to climate finance at the county level.
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Sustainable Finance and Conservation
In green finance and investment mobilization, Nasra has led cross-border capacity-building initiatives involving FMDQ Nigeria and FSD Africa to strengthen sustainable financing in the region.
She has managed partnerships with international organizations such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the International Finance Corporation, and the World Resources Institute, as well as government institutions and private investors.
Earlier in her career, she participated in the Presidential Taskforce on Illegal Logging, which focused on conservation governance reforms.
Nasra Nanda also served on the transaction advisory team representing local lenders during the US$225 million restructuring of Kenya Airways.
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