In Kenya, according to the 2018 Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), diseases of the respiratory system are the leading cause of morbidity, followed by malaria. They accounted for 34% of all incidences in 2017, compared to malaria’s 18.7%. Kenya experiences 19,112 deaths annually because of air pollution, and of these, 6,672 are children. These are diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and lung cancer, among others.

The 2017 survey estimated that 19.9 million Kenyans suffer from respiratory ailments that are exacerbated by poor air quality. We’re joined by Dr. Kanyiva Muindi of the Africa Population Health Research Centre (APHRC) to talk about air quality in Kenya at large, and Nairobi in particular. Press play!

Resources

Economic Survey 2018 – Kenya National Bureau of Statistics

Air Quality Regulations (2014)

Environmental Management and Coordination Act (1999)

(Amended) Environmental Management and Coordination Act (2015)

Air Pollution in Nairobi Slums: Sources, Levels and Lay Perceptions

Invisible and ignored: air pollution inside the homes of Nairobi’s residents

There is no escape: Nairobi’s air pollution sparks Africa health warning

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE: Who is monitoring air quality in Kenya?

Why Nairobi’s air pollution is deadly

Nairobi Air Quality Monitoring Sensor Network Report – April 2017

The Air Pollution in Nairobi, Kenya

Measuring Nairobi’s air quality using locally assembled low-cost sensors

WHO Guidelines for indoor air quality – household fuel combustion (2014)

WHO Guidelines for indoor air quality – selected pollutants (2010)

WHO Air quality guidelines for particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide – Global update 2005

9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air, but more countries are taking action

Image Credit: Environmental Justice Atlas