New action plan paints grim picture of air quality in the city

Nairobi County’s Chief Officer for Environment, Ibrahim Otieno, speaking during the launch of Air Quality Action Plan./HANDOUT

In 2019, toxic air was linked to an estimated 2,500 premature deaths in Nairobi.

In response, the Nairobi government has unveiled its second Air Quality Action Plan (2025–29) in a bid to improve air quality through inclusive, sustainable and resilient practices aimed at creating a healthier city.

The plan envisions a Nairobi with clean and healthy air for all residents.

Green Nairobi executive Maureen Njeri said the plan establishes emission reduction targets across key sectors, including transport, waste management, construction, industry and urban agriculture.

“Under Governor Johnson Sakaja’s administration, Nairobi chooses facts over guesswork, action over delay and dignity over neglect. We back this choice not with words alone, but with science, systems and strong action. For the first time, Nairobi’s environmental decisions will be driven by data,” she said.

The county is prioritising the reduction of pollution from transport, waste and industrial activities.

Clean Air Fund director Mike Saxton said Nairobi has made progress in managing cleaner transport and expressed commitment to supporting implementation through the Breathe Cities Initiative.

Nairobi’s vehicle fleet numbered 2.6 million in 2021, with road transport contributing about 40 per cent of PM2.5 concentrations. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller.

The county is also working to improve urban planning through the 2014–2030 Nairobi Integrated Urban Development Master Plan, in partnership with national and private entities.

Waste management remains a major challenge due to population growth, urbanisation and infrastructure development.

The city generates between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes of solid waste daily.

Only 10 per cent of this waste is recycled, while the majority ends up in dumpsites, waterways, roadside illegal dumps or is openly burned, releasing toxic emissions.

The Air Quality Action Plan aims to reduce emissions from vehicles and waste management, support sustainable transport initiatives, improve air quality in densely populated low-income settlements and strengthen compliance with national and county regulations.

It also seeks to promote public awareness, support research on health impacts and enhance air quality monitoring and enforcement.

To strengthen data-driven decision-making, the county has launched a data management system supported by the Clean Air Fund’s Breathe Cities Initiative.

The plan builds on lessons from the 2019–23 Air Quality Action Plan, which saw the installation of two reference monitors at Mama Lucy Hospital and Nairobi Fire Station and 50 low-cost sensors citywide.

An Air Quality Management Unit has also been established within the county government, and air quality measures have been incorporated into the Nairobi City County Integrated Development Plan (2023–27).

Despite these strides, the county faces challenges, including limited funding, budget cuts from the national treasury, and insufficient capacity building for environmental officers.

Sustainability of air quality monitoring remains an issue, as city officers have limited access to key monitoring sites, reducing opportunities for skills development in data collection, maintenance, and analysis.

The county has allocated Sh1 billion under the CIDP 2023-27 for air quality and climate-related issues, emphasising the need for sustained investment to ensure Nairobi achieves its goal of cleaner, healthier air for all residents.