•He said Providing leadership for stakeholder engagement and providing pathways that underpin building the local community towards clean air is also a strategy that they use.
•Additionally, Clean Air Catalyst expert shared insights on how to avert the looming crisis.
Image: NANCY AGUTU
On a typical day in Nairobi, matatus hoot emits dark and dangerous gases to the environment leading to air pollution.
With this, pedestrians or even passengers inhale these gases either while they are walking in the morning or the evening leading to different respiratory diseases.
But this cannot be avoided as Kenyans, particularly in Nairobi have to earn a living.
Some will go and rent a shop next to a bus station where the gases are hazardous. While others will inhale the gases while going through their daily chores.
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics
Air pollution remains one of the biggest threats to human health, the economy, and the overall ecological balance.
In Nairobi, studies have shown that the air quality is consistently poor, with average annual PM2.5 levels more than double the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guideline level (WRI, 2021).
But what exactly is Nairobi County doing about this?
Speaking during the Climate Change Media Workshop on Tuesday, Deputy Director of Climate Change Maurice Kavai said the transport sector is the leading air polluter in the city.
The transport sector accounted for 45 per cent of Nairobi's air pollution.
This was followed by waste at 33 per cent and stationery energy at 22 per cent.
Commercial eateries, industries, and households were also named as contributors to this trend of air pollution in the city.
National Environment Management Authority head of air quality Salaleh Okoth said this unclean air has deteriorated the quality of life of Nairobi residents.
To avert the upsurge of air pollution in the city, Nairobi County proposed strategies that would be prioritised.
Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration said they would integrate climate change and Air Quality into the city’s plan.
“This will go into the processes and governance system. We are also keen to develop a framework for air quality monitoring solutions that are user-friendly and provide easy access to air quality data for decision-making in Nairobi City County,” Deputy Director of Climate Change Maurice Kavai said.
Image: William Wanyoike
He said Providing leadership for stakeholder engagement and providing pathways that underpin building the local community towards clean air is also a strategy that they use.
Additionally, the Clean Air Catalyst expert shared insights on how to avert the looming crisis.
In their report presented during the workshop, they said they would Improve Source Awareness by building a shared understanding of the pollution sources that affect communities in each city.
Internews Earth Journalism Network which organised the workshop noted that journalists and media houses can also play a vital role in averting the air pollution crisis in the city.
"The media is critical in informing the public, shaping perceptions, and driving policies relating to air pollution. Journalists can stimulate community-level dialogues and help create enabling environments for policies," Internews project coordinator Jackline Ludubwi said.
"The mainstream media, community media as well as social media can reinforce key messages on air pollution and potentially bring about greater accountability and behavioural change."