Kenya has become the first country in East and Central Africa to list the green bond, Xinhua News, a Chinese top news portal, has reported.

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According to the report, the listing was confirmed by George Odundo, the chief executive officer of Nairobi Security Exchange (NSE). 

Odundo said that thanks to the public listing, the members of the public will now be able to have access to 4.3 billion shillings (about 42 million U.S. dollars) debt instrument issued by Nairobi-based Acorn Holdings.

"The corporate green bond is expected to attract both retail and institutional investors that are keen to have green assets as part of their portfolios," he said, as quoted by Xinhua News.

"We expect the new corporate listing to reignite interest for corporates to use the capital markets to raise funds for their expansion activities," the NSE boss added.

The boss of the Central Bank of Kenya, Patrick Njoroge, according to Xinhua News, held the view that the listing would go along way in dealing with the devastating effects of climate change.

A green bond is a bond whose monies are used to fund environmentally sustainable projects.

The move will help in raising Kenya's profile internationally as a country committed to fighting climate change and pursuing environmental causes.