Dandora School in Kenya Grows Bamboo To Mitigate Air Pollution

It is about 2pm at Dandora Secondary School, and students have just come from lunch break. Some students are already in class while others can be seen strolling around the football pitch carrying plates and cups.

Dandora Secondary School is just about 12 kilometers from Nairobi's central business district in Kenya and adjacent to East Africa’s largest landfill—Dandora dumpsite.

Despite being declared full in 2001, hundreds of trucks carrying trash from around the city are still flocking to the site and continuing to pollute the air in the neighborhood.

The foul smell and choking smoke emanating from the landfill dominate most parts of the compound, disrupting visibility and the flow of oxygen.

“Recurrent coughing is a common thing here. Dandora dumpsite is the reason for all these,” says Eutycus Thiong’o school principal.

This mixed-day secondary school has been battling pollution for decades. It has required the school management to take action to lessen the risks.

The bamboo project, which was started by the school, is an example of action taken by the institution to create a favorable environment for learning and safety for both students and teachers.

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This story was produced with support from Internews' Earth Journalism Network. It was first published in The Star on June 3, 2024. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Banner image: School principal Eutycus Thiong’o stands next to a bamboo plant / Credit: Shadrack Omuka.