Plan on to curb rising air pollution in Nairobi

Nairobi deputy governor Njoroge Muchiri on Wednesday said the county has experienced accelerated growth in population which has in turn worsened the city’s environment and worsened air pollution.

According to Muchiri, people living in the informal settlements where more than 70 per cent of city residents live have been worst hit by the uneven distribution of poor air quality.

Muchiri who was speaking during the Nairobi Ride4Life cycling event identified emissions from vehicles and open waste burning as some of the factors that have greatly contributed to air pollution in Nairobi.

Informal businesses including those that involve food preparation along roadsides, pollution from nearby dumpsites, industrial activity, and vehicles are other factors.

“There is also the challenge of inadequate housing and transportation which compromises the health of the people further compounding the impacts of poor air quality,” Muchiri said.

Nairobi Ride4Life cycling event took place Wednesday as part of Air Quality Awareness Week, culminating with a cycling procession through the CBD to create a community movement for clean air, and provision of better and safer walking and cycling infrastructure.

“Led by Governor Johnson Sakaja, the County Government of Nairobi has committed to address air pollution by developing a citywide Air Quality Action Plan and recently assented to the Nairobi City County Air Quality Act” he said.

“Nairobi is also on track in establishing a robust air quality monitoring network to better understand and track pollution sources,” he added.

The DG noted that the recent partnership with AIRQO and Makerere University has seen an additional eight Low cost Sensors in the air quality monitoring network infrastructure.

Further, a Reference monitor, a mechanism which takes more detailed air quality parameters than what can be achieved through a low cost air sensor, has been acquired by the World Resources Institute and will be stationed in the city.

Speaking at the same event, Samburu East MP Naisula Lesuuda called on the stakeholders to move from commitment to action to legally protect vulnerable road users who have been excluded and exposed to death, injuries and harassment for decades.

This, she said, can be done through road planning, design decisions and legal framework.  

The legislator said she introduced an amendment bill in the National Assembly with the hope that the much needed holistic Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) legislation will be passed by Parliament and subsequently assented to by the President.  

“If passed into law, the amendment bill will ensure cycling, walking lanes and all other road infrastructure that aid in attaining sustainable road transport systems in Kenya are in place and prioritised,” she said.

The Nairobi Ride4Life is also aimed to show support for policies and infrastructure that encourage non-motorised transport and other measures to reduce traffic and air pollution.

Experts warn that respiratory disease is the number one cause of mortality and illness in Nairobi, made worse by air pollution.

Emissions from cars, motorcycles and trucks are the largest source of that pollution.

Adopting bicycles, walking and other forms of non-motorised transport to move around the city is one way that Nairobi citizens can reduce toxic fossil fuel emissions and contribute to cleaning up Nairobi’s air.