Nairobi City County today marked a major milestone in its fight for cleaner air with the deployment of its first-ever city-owned air quality monitoring network.

The initiative, a cornerstone of the ‘Breathe Nairobi’ program, will see 50 real-time sensors installed across the city to track pollution levels and inform data-driven policies.

Clean Air as a Human Right

Speaking at the launch, Lucile Brethes, Head of Project Delivery for Breathe Cities, emphasised that clean air is a fundamental right, yet Nairobi’s residents face dangerous pollution levels.

“In 2023, Nairobi’s air carried harmful particles at four times the WHO’s safe limit,” she said. “This invisible crisis caused an estimated 2,500 premature deaths in 2019 alone. Today, we take a crucial step toward change.”

The new sensors will pinpoint pollution hotspots, empower policymakers, and keep the public informed through real-time data access.

Nairobi City: A Model for African Cities

The project is part of the Breathe Cities initiative, a global effort by Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies to cut air pollution by 30% by 2030. Nairobi is one of 14 cities worldwide selected for the program.

“This isn’t just about technology—it’s about people,” said Seneca Naidoo, C40’s Regional Technical Head of Air Quality for Africa.

“Nairobi is setting a benchmark for African cities by embedding air quality management into its own systems.”

Alongside the sensor rollout, Breathe Nairobi is supporting the Nairobi City County Government in developing Air Quality Action Plans, launching public data portals to ensure transparency, and running community campaigns to raise awareness about air pollution risks.

From Data to Action

The expanded network makes Nairobi’s monitoring system one of Africa’s largest, ensuring accountability and targeted interventions.

“These sensors symbolize a city that prioritises its people’s health,” said Brethes. “Now, we must turn data into impact.”

With pollution posing a growing threat to public health and the economy, Nairobi’s leadership offers a blueprint for other cities to follow.

Next steps include launching real-time pollution mapping this month, developing policies to enforce cleaner air standards, and rolling out public engagement campaigns to drive behavioural change.

”Let’s keep breathing hope into our cities,” Brethes urged.

Source: Switch Media