Patrick Chabeda: Nairobi's Airborne Open Sewers Pollute Every Breath
Dear Kenyans; A battle rages beyond our borders. Everyone feels vulnerable, and our communities are facing danger. Throughout our communities—from makeshift shantytowns and urban slums to upscale districts on the opposite side of the nearby river, spanning our municipalities, including the surrounding suburban zones that form larger city regions, within our administrative centers as well as alongside winding country roads.
The mixture of airborne contaminants we face resembles a chemical attack orchestrated by a vengeful entity from another world. Almost every breath of air around us is contaminated and harmful. However, there’s an unforeseen yet comforting silver lining: This battle against pollution rages worldwide, and we aren’t fighting alone. Though we carry much of the blame for this situation, our collective effort means we possess the capability to triumph over it since we’ve brought this challenge upon ourselves together.
The proof isn't more evident than what we see on our pavements, where the impact of this exposure would be staggering were it not illegal. Simply go for a stroll. Black and white smoke continuously billows at street level, affecting everyday citizens of Nairobi.
Regardless of whether it's storeowners on the main roads in the city center, passengers getting on or off public service vehicles, runners aiming to maintain their health; or everyday pedestrians who are already grappling with financial realities. Whether it's school-going children undergoing crucial mental growth or everyday individuals carrying out their usual activities. No one is spared.
Pointing their tailpipes directly towards the edges of the road, public service vehicles and large trucks seem to be the primary offenders when it comes to pollution. However, it's not only your beloved stage group saccos And construction trucks spewing toxins right at us.
Their road companions consist of private school buses, trucks, and bodabodas, which are all integral parts of the performance. Also included are pickup trucks, older SUVs, and regular cars. They produce an equal amount of visible smoke emissions containing a cocktail of numerous hazardous chemicals, including many known carcinogens.
The transportation industry certainly isn’t alone as a culprit. Numerous polluters also wield significant power when releasing various harmful pollutants into our atmosphere. Open dumping and burning of refuse, particularly including toxic compounds and disposable plastics, generate deadly airborne contaminants. Additionally, the usage of household charcoal along with the combustion of biomass and timber for energy, coupled with street-side food preparation, contribute substantially to perilous fine particle emissions.
Ultimately the situation is akin to living next to an open sewer. It would be unconscionable to open the over-flow valves of your household septic tank and release raw sewage onto neighborhood roads, fields and open drains. You also just simply wouldn’t let anyone empty their waste into your back yard. We must see uncontrolled air pollution for what it really is. An unconstitutional assault on our air quality, a public good that must be protected and for which effective interventions are long overdue.
Research has not yet completely determined the full economic impact of air pollution in Kenya. Nevertheless, it is clear that the global health consequences are severe. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), both brief and prolonged exposure can result in numerous illnesses such as strokes, different types of cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, worsened asthma symptoms, and lower respiratory tract infections. Additionally, substantial evidence indicates connections between air pollution exposure and conditions like type 2 diabetes, reproductive issues, mental health disorders, obesity, systemic inflammation, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.
Simply stated, the scientific evidence is clear and the consequences are widely recognized. These outcomes have severe repercussions for everyone and their loved ones. It is imperative that action be taken immediately. Such efforts require the formation of a cohesive alliance representing all stakeholders. After all, we are all contributors to pollution. Therefore, communities, government officials, regulatory bodies, businesses, academic institutions, and political leaders should collaborate on the ground level to take decisive actions, increase public understanding, promote advocacy, and drive sustainable innovation across entire supply chains. With collective effort, change is inevitable, allowing us all to confidently stride forward into a better future.
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