The Nairobi County has urged all vehicle owners in Nairobi CBD to make sure they switch off their vehicle engines after they park to avoid air pollution.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 23, Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, claimed that leaving engines on is a key factor that is leading to the deteriorating air quality in the county, especially in the CBD.
According to Mosiria, vehicles have led to an accelerating rate of air pollution in the Fire Station area in the CBD. Mosiria has further noted that the reckless burning of waste and emission of gases from factories have also contributed to the pollution.
"There is a lot of pollution going on in CBD, especially around the fire station area, and our website is showing that the air is unhealthy, so when you are in CBD, please make sure that you wear a mask," Mosiria stated.
"This pollution around CBD is happening because of vehicles, and I would like to urge vehicle owners in CBD to ensure that they switch off their engines when they park so that we can reduce pollution from cars within CBD," he added.
Nairobi residents have been encouraged to ensure that they regularly visit the Nairobi County website, under the Air Quality section, to check the air quality status of the areas they intend to visit.
Mosiria noted that anyone visiting areas identified to have poor air quality should wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory problems.
"Some areas have good air, but the quality is moderate, meaning that you can breathe the air, but those people who are asthmatic or have other existing respiratory problems should ensure that they wear a mask," Mosiria stated.
Mosiria has, however, noted that in the recent past, the air pollution in some parts of the city has been steadily declining, with some areas, including Dandora Phase 1, Embakasi West, Buruburu, Jogoo Road, Mamlaka Road, Dagoretti South, and Gigiri, having clean air. There is no need to wear masks in these areas, according to Mosiria.
The air quality in the majority of parts of the country's capital is often poor. In August, Nairobi was ranked as the second most air-polluted city in the world by IQAir, just behind Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to the report, vehicle emissions, industrial operations, and open burning of waste are some of the key contributors to the deteriorating air quality in the country's capital.
The county, through its new city-owned network of 50 low-cost sensors, has a live page on its website showing the quality of air in parts of the CBD and various estates. The page, which was last updated last night, shows Muindi Mbingu St area as being unsafe for people with sensitivities. The air quality in these areas has an index between 35.5 and 55.4.
Most areas of the capital have a moderate index, that is, between 12.1 and 35.4.
In a statement on his official X account on Thursday, September 4, Mosiria revealed that the county government is in the process of issuing warning notices to establishments, especially industries that are polluting the air.
