Kenyan cyclists stranded in Namibia after Brazil visa rejection on journey to COP30.

For 56 days, Kenyan climate activists Enock Kitheka and Derrick Kindavasi (also known as Hashu Kidavasi) have been pedalling thousands of kilometres on electric bicycles across Southern Africa, their sights set on reaching Belém, Brazil, for the COP30 climate summit. Their journey, a powerful symbol of low-carbon transport and climate resilience, was meant to carry Africa's grassroots climate stories to a global stage. But their ambitious expedition has hit an unexpected bureaucratic wall: a Brazilian visa rejection, leaving them stranded in Windhoek, Namibia. The "Cycle COP30 – Wheels for Climate" journey began with fanfare in Nairobi, with Kenya's Special Climate Envoy, Ambassador Ali Mohamed, flagging off the team in July. The original plan was to cycle through eight African countries—Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia—before flying to Brazil and continuing their ride to Belém. A third activist, Felicitus Okoko, was part of the initial plan but the final duo continuing on the ground is Kitheka and Kindavasi.

Along the way, the duo has hosted "Climate Cafés" and community gatherings, engaging youth groups and environmental clubs on renewable energy and sustainable transport. They have documented their travels on social media, sharing stories of communities adapting to drought and innovators building clean energy solutions, proving that the journey itself is a crucial part of their message.The goal was to arrive in Brazil in time for the summit, which began in November 2025. To manage the vast distance and time constraints, flying from Namibia was a necessary logistical step.

However, the Brazilian embassy rejected their visa applications, abruptly halting their physical progress. Now, they are stuck in Windhoek, depending on the generosity of the local community and the Kenyan diaspora for food, shelter, and laundry, living in camping tents as their temporary base.The cyclists' plight has highlighted a significant challenge faced by many grassroots activists from the Global South: while large, government-funded delegations from developed nations often arrive at COPs with ease, many African environmental campaigners face severe logistical hurdles, visa rejections, and funding shortfalls.

Despite the setback, the pair remain resilient. "We may not be in Belém yet, but our message has already reached thousands," Kitheka stated. Kindavasi added, "We still believe we'll get there... A visa delay won't stop us".

Their story underscores that the fight for climate justice often involves overcoming not just physical deserts, but also bureaucratic barriers. The duo is hopeful, patient, and determined to find a way to make it to Brazil and deliver their hard-won stories to the world stage.