The issue of climate adaptation continued to dominate the African agenda on Day 3 of COP27.

On Wednesday, the International Capital Market Association (ICMA), who set the rules in the bond market, laid out plans for countries hit by climate induced natural disasters, such as flooding and hurricanes, to automatically freeze debt payments. 

The ICMA introduced new 'climate resilient debt clauses' or CDRCs, specifically targeting low-income countries, that governments can plug into soveriegn bonds they sell to raise money on global capital markets. With many African countries on the brink or knee-deep in a debt crisis, the mechanism will allow them to pause debt payments for a maximum of 2 years to free up cash flow to provide aid and assistance to battle climate disasters. 

Speaking during COP27, President & CEO at Africa Finance Corporation, Mr Samaila Zubaru noted that adaptation must be a priority for the continent but it puts additional pressure on Africa's current infrastructure needs. “In Africa we have a lot of need. The infrastructure deficit is about USD 2.3 trillion. If you factor in the need to climate-proof and build resilient infrastructure, it becomes about USD 3 trillion.”

Also on Wednesday, a group of over 85 African insurers unveiled the African Climate Risk Facility (ACRF) to help climate-proof the continent's most vulnerable communities.

The commitment will provide protection for 1.4bn people against floods droughts and tropical cyclones by providing $14bn in climate risk insurance to 2030 to African sovereigns, cities, aid agencies and NGOs. Both measures will go a long way in bridging the gaping climate risk financing gap on the continent as rich nations continue to shrug off demands for compensation for countries due to 'loss or damage' caused by global warming. 

At the same time, if African borrowers can use the newly introduced CDRCs to avoid sovereign defaults while they're grappling with the fallout from their latest climate disaster, this will benefit not only affected populations but their global creditors too.

A court in Nairobi has allowed police to detain eight officers from the disbanded Special Service Unit (SSU) for 21 days pending completion of investigations.  Kahawa Law Court Chief Magistrate Diana Mochache allowed police from the Internal Affairs Unit to extract the officers’ DNA and scrutinize their phones, for a conclusive report.  

This followed prosecution’s plea to detain the nine officers for 30 more days. However, in her ruling on Thursday, November 11, Chief Magistrate Mochache also freed one officer, Francis Muendo Ndonye on Sh500,000 cash bail after finding that investigator's document on his alleged involvement in the disappearance may have been forged. 

“I, therefore, find that the applicant has satisfied the court to be granted the application to detain the respondents,” ruled Mochache.

Ndonye was however directed to report to the investigators at any given time and is barred from travelling outside Nairobi.

The officers were arrested on diverse dates in October 2022 after they were suspected to have been involved in the disappearance of two Indian nationals and a Kenyan. 

The officers are Corporals Joseph Mwenda Mbaya and David Chepcheng Kipsoi, Constables Stephen Luseno matunda, Paul Njogu Muriithi and Simon Muhunga Gikonyo, Chief

Inspector Peter Muthee, Corporals Joseph Mbugua, Francis Ndonye and John Kamau.

President William Ruto had directed the disbandment of the elite squad as part of his plan to address extrajudicial killings in the country.

The Head of State said the police unit had become killers, instead of protectors of ordinary Kenyans. By David Njaaga, The Standard