Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, located in the south-central part of the country, and home to over 9 million residents. It contains one of the largest business districts in Africa and much of the industry in Kenya. Nairobi is also an important trade route, exporting products from nearby agricultural centers.
Nairobi is a hub of industrial and business activity, but also an area of Kenya with especially poor pollution, markedly air pollution, due largely to vehicular emissions.
More specifically, this article will cover these areas of pollution in Nairobi:
Air Pollution in Nairobi
As Nairobi grows as a large cultural and economic center of the country, air pollution is worsening.
Of 4,744 world cities evaluated in IQ Air’s 2020 report, Nairobi ranked at 1,408. The annual average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in 2020 was 14.7 ug/m3. This concentration is almost three times the standard set by the World Health Organization of 5 μg/m3, meaning that the air in Nairobi is regularly unsafe to breathe.
Air pollution in Nairobi is caused by:
- Vehicular emissions
- Industrial emissions
- Household burning of coal and wood
Of these causes, Nairobi’s air is especially impacted by vehicular emissions. Because the city is urbanizing so quickly, the amount of cars is increasing dramatically with the number of vehicles on the road doubling every six years. These cars are often diesel and most are at least 10 years old, meaning they release substantially more particulate matter compared to newer, more efficient vehicles.
Water Pollution in Nairobi
Causes of Nairobi’s water pollution include:
- Sewage dumping
- Untreated industrial runoff
- Solid waste dumping into rivers
These factors mean that Nairobi’s surface water, groundwater, and tap water are polluted and that piped water is almost always unsafe to drink.
Surface Water
The main surface water in Nairobi is the Nairobi river, which contains many streams flowing eastward through the city. Because of the river’s proximity to industrial sites and slums, it is heavily polluted.
The river is contaminated with garbage, methane, hydrogen sulfide, and high amounts of E. coli. In fact–in 2019, the river was found to have one million units of E. coli per 100 mL of water, where the standard is 100 units per 100 mL, making it incredibly unsafe for bathing or even washing clothes or dishes. 56% of Kenya’s population lives on this river, so water pollution in Nairobi affects many residents of the country.
Drinking Water
As Nairobi’s population increases, its citizen’s access to water is also diminishing. Only 50% of Nairobi residents had access to piped water as of 2017. The tap water that does come into people’s homes is unsafe to drink, largely because industrial runoff and sewage pollute the groundwater in the city, so residents must purchase bottled water to drink.
Land Pollution in Nairobi
Nairobi’s land pollution suffers from the same causes as its water:
- Garbage dumping
- Sewage dumping
- Untreated industrial waste
- Overall poor solid waste management
All of the above lead to very poor soil health in the city. Along with these causes, Nairobi also struggles to control waste from cars. Since residents of the city typically drive old cars, they don’t last long and are discarded, piling up in garbage dumps.
Key Takeaways
- Air Pollution: Nairobi’s air is relatively unhealthy to breathe, largely due to intense vehicle emissions in the rapidly urbanizing city.
- Water Pollution: The Nairobi river is heavily polluted by sewage, plastic waste, and industrial runoff. Half of the residents have access to piped water but it is unsafe to drink.
- Land Pollution: Nairobi has poor solid waste management infrastructure leading to heavily polluted land, especially in slums.