Nairobi, 28th November 2025
Nairobi City County has today made a major achievement towards ensuring cleaner and healthier air by launching its second Air Quality Action Plan 2025-2029, and a Nairobi City owned data management system, supported by the Clean Air Fund’s Breathe Cities Initiative. These platforms will help the County strengthen its policy decisions, promote transparency and accountability as well as track progress in real time.
The new Air Quality Action Plan builds on the lessons and achievements from the 2019-2023 plan, while introducing new strategies that emphasize on capacity building, multisectoral coordination and evidence based implementation, aligning Nairobi’s actions with national priorities and international air quality and climate standards.
“Today’s is not just a launch, it is a declaration that clean air is not a privilege but a right. Under Governor Sakaja’s administration, Nairobi chooses facts over guess work, action over delay and dignity over neglect. We back this choice not with words alone, but with science, systems and strong action. For the first time Nairobi’s environmental decisions will be driven by data. “Said Ms. Maureen Njeri, the County Executive Committee Member for Green Nairobi.
Ms. Njeri noted that the new plan lays concrete steps across five key areas:- transport, Urban Planning, industry, households, energy and waste. She promised that the County will manage air quality issues firmly, fairly and consistently, adding that leadership is not about popularity but it’s doing what protects lives especially of the most vulnerable.
According to Mr. Ibrahim Otieno, the County Chief Officer for Environment, the 2025-2029 Action Plan responds to rapid urbanization, increased transport demand, industrial expansion, waste challenges and raising household energy needs, providing a clear roadmap with targeted interventions across transport, energy, industry, waste and Climate resilience.
He added that the City will prioritize expanding its air monitoring, strengthening enforcement, scaling clean mobility, advancing clean transition and mobilizing climate finance.
The Clean Air Fund Director Mr. Mike Saxton, attributed the milestones celebrated today as a testament to the leadership and commitment of Nairobi County Government under the stewardship of the Nairobi Governor H. E Sakaja Johnson whom he noted through his visioning and coordination, Nairobi has moved from inaction to action.
“Across the globe, cities are wrestling with how to implement cleaner transport but Nairobi is making progress. Breathe Cities Initiative remains steadfast in our commitment to partnering with Nairobi to turn the achievements and progress so far into implementation”. Remarked Mr. Saxton.
Speaking also at the same event Mr. Njenga Muchekehu, the Deputy Regional Director for Africa C40 Cities, termed the day’s event as more than the launch of the two key milestones, calling it a clear signal that Nairobi is serious about using evidence, innovation and collaboration to protect the health of its people and build a cleaner, more resilient future. “Nairobi is a regional and global leader in clean air action and these milestones are further cementing that the city has been setting a strong example on the continent, and the city’s commitment to city owned and operated monitoring systems in what truly sets it apart. C40 remains committed to supporting Nairobi as it takes these next steps through technical assistance, Peer to peer learning, capacity building and global knowledge exchange.” He added.
The County Director of Environment Mr. JP Malawi confirmed that the County now shifts its focus to implementation, calling for renewed collective resolve to drive the implementation boldly, inclusively and strategically, ensuring that the people of Nairobi breathe clearer air today and in the years to come. “The Action Plan and the data management system provides us with direction, tools and evidence. However, their impact depends not just on the documents or platforms, but on how we work together to put them into action. Said Mr. Malawi.
While acknowledging the significant progress made by the Green Nairobi Sector in tackling Air pollution, Mr. Wilson Gakuya, the County Chief Officer for Digital Economy and Start – Ups, called for more partnerships in advancing smarter and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence to enhance prediction and forecasting systems for improved air quality management.
Development Partners such as Clean Air Fund, World Resource Institute, C40 Cities, Environmental Compliance Institute, Airqo and Makerere University were commended for supporting the County in its quest for cleaner air.
Several community groups, academia, County and National Government officials, independent experts and civil society organizations who provided their expertise, community insights and institutional commitments during the development of the Action Plan were also celebrated.
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