Indoor Air Pollution Puts Families in Nairobi’s Informal Settlements at Risk

Families residing in the informal settlements of Kibera and Mathare in Nairobi, Kenya face a multitude of health challenges. Living in cramped, poorly ventilated single-room houses where cooking takes place poses significant risks. Due to economic constraints, most households rely on stoves, charcoal, and firewood as their primary sources of cooking fuel, despite the associated dangers.

Household air pollution is a grave global concern, causing an estimated 2.6 million premature deaths annually (GBD 2016 Mortality Collaborators, 2017). One of the leading contributors to this staggering figure is the burning of biomass for cooking and heating, a practice embraced by nearly half of the world’s population.

Inadequate housing, poor ventilation, and overcrowding exacerbate the situation, resulting in men, women, and children being exposed to alarmingly high levels of pollution.

Derrick Amwai, a single father in Kibera, steps outside his cramped dwelling after finishing his cooking. With his front door wide open, he waits for the smoke emitted by the stove to dissipate into the air.

The 28-year-old man reveals that he himself battles asthma, a chronic illness diagnosed eight years ago. “My four-year-old son also suffers from asthma, and I’ve come to accept it as a part of our lives,” Derrick shares.

His decision to seek medical attention stemmed from experiencing severe headaches, as well as irritations of the nose and eyes, all of which prompted concern. The diagnosis confirmed asthma, and he soon realized his son was going through a similar ordeal. 

“My son had persistent coughs and headaches, all caused by the smoke emitted by the stove we used for cooking,” Derrick adds.

Determined to alleviate his symptoms, Derrick often wakes up in the middle of the night, stepping outside his house to inhale fresh air. This practice has proven beneficial, and his understanding neighbors have grown accustomed to his nocturnal routine. Living with asthma has taught him to remain vigilant about his condition and take necessary precautions.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 2.4 billion people worldwide, roughly one-third of the global population, rely on open fires or inefficient stoves fueled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung, and crop waste), and coal, thereby generating harmful household air pollution.

The WHO further reports that household air pollution was responsible for an estimated 3.2 million deaths in 2020 alone, with over 237,000 of those deaths being children under the age of 5. Exposure to household air pollution contributes to non-communicable diseases such as stroke, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.

Women and children, who are primarily responsible for household chores like cooking and collecting firewood, bear the brunt of the health burden associated with using polluting fuels and technologies within their homes.

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This story was produced with support from Internews' Earth Journalism Network. It was first published in Pamoja FM on July 12, 2024. It has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Banner image: Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya / Credit: Pamoja FM.