Petronila Imbwira, a long-time resident of Lunga Lunga in Nairobi, joined other community members in a cleanup exercise aimed at raising awareness on the need to live in a clean and healthy environment.
Imbwira, who has lived in the area for thirty-eight years, has watched it transform from bushes into a densely populated settlement surrounded by industries where most locals work.
“When I first came here, people lived in houses made of cartons, with no toilets or water. The place has grown, but the challenges remain,” she recalled.
Residents find themselves choked between a heavily polluted Ngong River and factories that release toxic smoke daily. “Each factory emits different types of smoke. We end up breathing a mixture of all of them. Our children are the most affected,” Imbwira said.
Her neighbor, Saida Mohamed, who has lived in the settlement for seventeen years, echoed her concerns. “Sometimes even during the day, the smoke is so heavy you’d think it was nighttime. I am allergic, my children cough constantly, and my house is full of medicine,” she said.
Determined to create change, Saida, Imbwira, and hundreds of their neighbors have embraced conservation efforts. On this day, more than 300 residents participated in a community-led cleanup supported by the Breathe Nairobi Initiative.
Mukuru, one of the largest informal settlements in Nairobi, plays a critical role in the battle against air pollution. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is the world’s leading environmental health risk, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) being the most dangerous pollutant. Nairobi consistently records levels considered unhealthy by global standards, with recent real-time data ranking it Africa’s second most polluted city.
The problem is worsened by poor waste management practices in informal settlements, where open dumping and burning release dangerous toxins into the air. These conditions contribute to severe health risks, including respiratory and heart diseases, cancer, and even premature death. In 2019 alone, air pollution was linked to around 2,500 premature deaths in Nairobi—about 15% of the city’s total fatalities. Globally, the toll is estimated at 8 million lives annually.
The Breathe Nairobi Initiative seeks to change this reality by equipping communities with knowledge and sustainable waste management skills such as recycling and segregation, while discouraging harmful practices like burning waste. Through such efforts, residents are reclaiming their neighborhoods, one cleanup at a time.
