Nairobi has been ranked among the most polluted cities in Africa in a new report that highlights growing concerns over the health of its residents. According to data from Swiss-based air monitor IQAir, the Kenyan capital is the third most polluted major city on the continent and stands 83rd worldwide.
The report shows Nairobi has an Air Quality Index reading of 92, which falls within the moderate range but remains far above the World Health Organisation’s guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic meter for safe annual exposure to fine particulate matter. The main pollutant in Nairobi is PM2.5, extremely small particles that penetrate deep into the lungs and can enter the bloodstream.
Air pollution in Nairobi is not evenly spread across the city. Areas near the Dandora dumpsite record readings of more than 110, which is considered unhealthy for people with underlying conditions. Kariobangi has also been identified as a hotspot with air quality around 90. These communities are exposed to some of the dirtiest air in the capital, putting residents at constant risk of serious health problems.
Medical experts are linking the city’s worsening air quality to a surge in respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chronic coughs. Studies also connect prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter with heart disease, strokes, lung and throat cancers, miscarriages and birth defects. Children and older people are the most vulnerable, but long-term exposure places every resident in danger.
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The report attributes the problem to several factors. Nairobi’s roads are filled with old vehicles that release heavy fumes. Industrial emissions, dust from construction projects, smoke from open waste burning and poor waste management all contribute to the city’s air pollution levels.
On the continent, Kinshasa has the highest pollution levels with an index reading of 199, followed by Cairo and Kampala. Johannesburg offers the cleanest air in Africa, with an index of 62. Globally, Baghdad has the dirtiest air with a reading of 256, while cities such as Sydney and Auckland record some of the cleanest atmospheres in the world.
City officials have begun responding to the crisis with policies that include an Air Quality Action Plan, new monitoring stations and partnerships with environmental groups. However, experts say these efforts must be backed by stronger enforcement.
They call for stricter regulation of industries, tighter vehicle emission standards, better public transport and improved waste management to ease the burden on residents.
For families living in Dandora and Kariobangi, the effects of air pollution are felt daily. The report is a reminder that while Nairobi continues to expand, the health of its people depends on cleaner skies and decisive action to reverse the trend.
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