By Linda Makau
On September 26th, 2025, stakeholders from government agencies, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector, and international partners gathered at Ole Sereni Hotel for a Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Emerging Air Quality Issues and Their Environmental, Health, and Equity Impacts. The event was not just another meeting it marked a significant moment in Nairobi’s fight against air pollution with the official handover of N-Air coordination from the World Resources Institute (WRI) to the Nairobi City County Government (NCCG) and the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). This transition signals a new era in air quality governance for Nairobi, giving national and county institutions greater ownership and responsibility in tackling one of the city’s most pressing public health and environmental challenges.
Opening the workshop, Gerphas Opondo, Environmental Lawyer and Executive Director of the Environmental Compliance Institute (ECI), outlined two main objectives guiding the day’s discussions. The first was to create a platform for stakeholders to share information on emerging air quality issues and their impacts on the environment, health, and equity. The second was to foster ongoing engagement with N-Air coordinators—WRI, NEMA, and NCCG to ensure a smooth transition following the conclusion of WRI’s Clean Air Catalyst Program. This transition included the formal handover of N-Air coordination responsibilities from WRI to NCCG and NEMA, ensuring continuity in air quality management efforts.
“Air quality management demands collaboration across multiple levels of government and sectors,” Gerphas emphasized. “No single actor can address this challenge alone. We need communities, scientists, policymakers, and civil society pulling together in the same direction.”
Representing the Nairobi City County Government, Deputy Director Maurice Kavai noted the significant strides Nairobi has made in air quality management over recent years. From drafting new regulations to expanding monitoring networks, the city has made visible progress in building the foundations for improved air quality governance.
“We’ve seen growing public interest and acknowledgment of the efforts underway,” Maurice said. “Nairobi is moving in the right direction, but there is still a lot more to be done to enhance the quality of life, public health, and air quality for all residents.”
From NEMA, Judy Arieko, Environmental Inspector, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to policy enforcement, continuous monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making. She stressed the need for resource mobilization and sustained partnerships to scale up efforts, thanking WRI for its steadfast leadership during the Clean Air Catalyst phase. “Collaboration will be key in turning plans and policies into concrete results,” she remarked.
The workshop featured a series of expert-led sessions offering critical insights into policy, science, and health dimensions of air pollution. Mr. Jacob Olonde presented the draft Nairobi City County Air Quality Regulations 2025, explaining how the proposed framework differs from national regulations and how it will equip the county with stronger enforcement mechanisms.
WRI has officially handed over the Nairobi Air Quality Working Group (N-AIR) to Nairobi City County Government and NEMA . WRI is proud to have established this group, which unites research, communities, and policymakers to shape Nairobi’s air quality agenda and ensure evidence and citizen voices drive real solutions. The next phase will be supported by Breathe Cities under the Clean Air Fund, building on this foundation to deepen collaboration, amplify community-led action, and accelerate policy implementation for cleaner, healthier air for all Nairobi residents
“In Nairobi we have had the benefit of having N-Air on the ground which helped us go through the strategic development very quickly; quicker than our peers whom we were on the same level. N- Air is such a beautiful vehicle and we hope to see it more vibrant in the future.” said Dr. Victor Indasi – Breathe Cities Lead: Kenya (Clean Air Fund)
Mr. Ngongang Wandji, Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute, shared air pollution trend data from Nairobi’s monitoring networks, revealing hotspots with persistent pollution challenges and highlighting the importance of localized interventions and robust data systems.
Health experts connected air pollution to severe health impacts, including respiratory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular conditions, and reproductive health challenges such as erectile dysfunction in men. Meanwhile, discussions on equity in air pollution underlined the disproportionate burden borne by vulnerable communities, with calls to address geographical, occupational, intergenerational, and socio-economic inequalities in air quality exposure.
Throughout the discussions, a recurring message was clear: solutions already exist. Stakeholders know what is needed stricter enforcement, wider monitoring networks, cleaner energy options, and greater public awareness. What remains is the political will, sustained funding, and coordinated action to implement these solutions at scale.
With the handover of N-Air coordination to NCCG and NEMA, Nairobi now stands at a pivotal moment. The shift signals local leadership taking ownership, but it also brings heightened expectations for results. As one participant noted, “Air quality is not just an environmental concern it is a public health, equity, and economic issue. Cleaner air means healthie people, reduced healthcare costs, and a more livable city for everyone.”
Closing the workshop, Gerphas Opondo and Maurice Kavai thanked all participants for their insights and reaffirmed the commitment of both county and national governments to make Nairobi’s air cleaner and safer. The handover from WRI to NCCG and NEMA marks the start of a homegrown approach to air quality management, rooted in local leadership but supported by scientific evidence and international partnerships. The task ahead is enormous, but with collaboration, political will, and sustained public engagement, Nairobi can turn the tide on air pollution ensuring cleaner skies and healthier futures for generations to come.
More From the Workshop
Photo Credits : Environmental Compliance Institute, ECI
