Mathare, one of Nairobi’s oldest and most densely populated informal settlements, a place where vibrant community life collides with a persistent, often invisible enemy: air pollution.

Far from being a distant environmental concern, air pollution in Mathare is an everyday crisis. It floats in the air, seeps into homes, and grips the lungs of residents who have nowhere else to go. The result is not only deteriorating health but a profound assault on the dignity and well-being of the people, especially women and children.

A Community Suffocating in Plain Sight

In Mathare, the air is tainted by the byproducts of systemic neglect:

• Thick smoke from ageing diesel vehicles.

• Burning garbage and plastic.

• Toxic fumes from charcoal and firewood stoves.

• Open sewage and uncollected waste.

These are not abstract pollutants, they are daily realities that hang heavy in the lungs of every resident. Despite Kenya’s environmental commitments, areas like Mathare continue to fall through the cracks, largely due to poor urban planning and the neglect of informal settlements in policy implementation.

Did you know?
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes 7 million premature deaths globally each year, with low-income communities being disproportionately affected.

The Hidden Numbers of Air Pollution in Mathare

Despite the World Health Organization’s recommended air quality limit of 15 µg/m³ for PM2.5, Nairobi’s air pollution levels are nearly four times higher, with Mathare experiencing some of the worst conditions due to dense population, poor infrastructure, and burning waste. A 2023 report by the Clean Air Fund revealed that over 2,500 premature deaths in Nairobi are attributed to air pollution each year, with informal settlements bearing the brunt.

Living in Mathare Feels Like a Gas Chamber

For residents like Juliet Nzilani, wearing a mask has become routine, not due to COVID-19, but because the air has become nearly unbreathable.

“The air is so bad that both my grandson and I have breathing problems,” she shares.

Juliet’s story is far from unique. In Mathare, respiratory issues are not rare, they’re expected. From children with chronic coughs to older residents gasping for clean air, the effects are immediate and devastating.

Environmental Injustice in Mathare

What’s happening in Mathare is not just an environmental crisis, it is a case of environmental injustice. The poorest, who contribute the least to pollution, suffer the most. Residents are subjected to a form of slow violence, where every breath chips away at their health, resilience, and economic stability.

In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly passed a historic resolution declaring that everyone on the planet has a right to a healthy environment, including clean air, water, and a stable climate.

What Comes Next?

This post is the first in a three-part series examining air pollution in informal settlements like Mathare. In the next post, we’ll take a closer look at how this environmental crisis disproportionately affects grassroots women. How it is impacting their health, incomes, and ability to care for their families.

Written by: Vivian Wangari and Stephanie Kanyingi from GROOTS Kenya

Contributing Authors: Mathare Mothers Development Centre, Dennis M. Njung’e and Rachel Kagoiya