Nairobi City County has officially launched its first city-owned air quality monitoring network, a milestone aimed at transforming how the city tracks and tackles air pollution.
The launch, held at Nairobi City Hall on June 11, 2025, saw the deployment of 50 air quality sensors across the capital.
The devices are expected to deliver real-time data on pollution levels, helping city officials and the public better understand air quality trends and take targeted action.
Nairobi City Governor Johnson Sakaja emphasised the launch to be the city’s renewed commitment to clean air and public health.
“This milestone marks a turning point in our commitment to improving air quality management. By deploying a city-owned air quality monitoring network, we are taking bold, practical steps to ensure that every resident of Nairobi has access to cleaner, safer air. This is a vital investment in the well-being of our people and the future of our city,” said Governor Sakaja.
The sensors will feed into a wider system designed to identify pollution hotspots, inform public health interventions, and shape county-level environmental policies.
Nairobi is one of 14 global cities participating in the Breathe Cities network, which aims to reduce air pollution by 30% by 2030, using 2019 as a baseline.
Lucile Brethes, MPH, Head of Project Delivery at Clean Air Fund, described the deployment as a significant milestone in the city’s clean air journey.
“This deployment is a cornerstone of the Breathe Cities Initiative in Nairobi. It’s a joint effort from the Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Nairobi is one of the 14 global cities that have joined the movement, aiming to cut air pollution by 30% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. We’re not only investing in technology and infrastructure, as you’re seeing today, but also in people, partnerships, and policy,” she said.
According to recent data, air pollution is one of the leading environmental risks in Nairobi. In 2019, it was linked to approximately 2,500 premature deaths in the city.
Source: Africa Solutions Mediahub