Clean Air Fund Backs Community Efforts in Nairobi Courtesy Call

Courtesy Call By Clean Air Fund to Kusudi in Efforts to Strengthening Community Leadership in Clean Air Efforts: Highlights from Breathe Cities Courtesy Call in Nairobi

On 12 June 2025, the Clean Air Fund’s Head of Project Delivery for the Breathe Cities initiative, Ms Lucile Brethes, visited Kusudi Cause Communication and its implementing partners—Muungano wa Wanavijiji (SDI), GROOTS Kenya, and the National Public Transport Advocacy (NAPTA)—for a courtesy call. This engagement offered an opportunity to review progress, share experiences, and reinforce the importance of community-driven approaches to improving air quality in Nairobi.

The courtesy call served as both a listening session and a strategic checkpoint. It focused on how the Nairobi chapter of Breathe Cities is unfolding, the nature of community participation, and ways to amplify its impact. The implementing organisations, all rooted in community work, provided valuable insights into how they are mobilising action on air pollution at the grassroots level—engaging with transport operators, women-led groups, and informal settlement residents.

Partners highlighted their current work, including awareness campaigns, stakeholder trainings, advocacy meetings, and the anticipated use of the newly installed air quality sensors to generate local data. The discussions revealed strong community interest in clean air but also noted challenges such as limited awareness of available solutions, funding constraints, and technical language barriers when interpreting air quality data.

Despite these challenges, the call spotlighted encouraging outcomes. NAPTA is engaging the matatu sector in conversations about vehicle emissions and clean transport alternatives. GROOTS Kenya is training local champions to engage with policy processes and advocate for clean air at the county level. Muungano wa Wanavijiji is using digital platforms and radio to amplify public understanding and stimulate action, especially among youth.

The Clean Air Fund recognised these efforts and expressed a strong interest in supporting further visibility of Nairobi’s work within the broader Breathe Cities network. The meeting also opened conversations on potential collaborations, cross-city learning, and increased support for community-led initiatives.

Dr Victor Indasi, Breathe Cities Lead in Kenya, speaking at the courtesy call.

Conclusion

In closing, the courtesy call reaffirmed a shared commitment: clean air must be a collective effort, rooted in community realities and leadership. The Nairobi team continues to lead by example, showing how inclusive, locally-led strategies can drive real progress in the fight for cleaner, healthier cities.