he initiative is part of the Breathe Cities Nairobi project—a collaboration between Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies—launched in September 2024.
Nairobi City County has officially launched its first city-owned air quality monitoring network, a milestone aimed at transforming how the city tracks and tackles air pollution.
The launch, held at Nairobi City Hall on June 11, 2025, saw the deployment of 50 air quality sensors across the capital.
The devices are expected to deliver real-time data on pollution levels, helping city officials and the public better understand air quality trends and take targeted action.
Nairobi City Governor Johnson Sakaja emphasized the launch to be the city’s renewed commitment to clean air and public health.
“This milestone marks a turning point in our commitment to improving air quality management. By deploying a city-owned air quality monitoring network, we are taking bold, practical steps to ensure that every resident of Nairobi has access to cleaner, safer air. This is a vital investment in the well-being of our people and the future of our city,” said Governor Sakaja.
The sensors will feed into a wider system designed to identify pollution hotspots, inform public health interventions, and shape county-level environmental policies.
The initiative is part of the Breathe Cities Nairobi project—a collaboration between Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies—launched in September 2024.
Nairobi is one of 14 global cities participating in the Breathe Cities network, which aims to reduce air pollution by 30% by 2030, using 2019 as a baseline.
Lucile Brethes, MPH, Head of Project Delivery at Clean Air Fund, described the deployment as a significant milestone in the city’s clean air journey.
“This deployment is a cornerstone of the Breathe Cities Initiative in Nairobi. It’s a joint effort from the Clean Air Fund, C40 Cities, and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and Nairobi is one of the 14 global cities that have joined the movement, aiming to cut air pollution by 30% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. We’re not only investing in technology and infrastructure, as you’re seeing today, but also in people, partnerships, and policy,” she said.
According to recent data, air pollution is one of the leading environmental risks in Nairobi. In 2019, it was linked to approximately 2,500 premature deaths in the city.
The average level of PM2.5—the most harmful form of particulate matter—was four times higher than World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in 2023.
The new network will help city officials track PM2.5 levels and other pollutants in real time.
The data will be used to guide decisions across sectors, from transport to construction and waste management.
Seneca Vieira, Technical Head for Breathe Cities, Africa, noted that the technology brings a new level of precision to city-level decision-making.
“Across our C40 network, we see how new sensing technologies are reshaping what is possible. These devices provide affordable and scalable solutions for real-time air quality monitoring, as well as baseline evidence, and support the city in demonstrating the need for measures that will reduce harmful air pollution,” he said.
Beyond technology, the Nairobi County Government is also working on a new set of air quality regulations and an action plan to reinforce enforcement.
The regulations will provide legal backing for interventions targeting key pollution sources, including traffic emissions, industrial processes, and open waste burning.
County Executive Committee Member for Green Nairobi, Ms. Maureen Njeri, also announced that a public-facing data portal will soon go live.
“The public portal will enable residents to get into this platform, and they will be able to democratise and access air quality data for every part of the city. This means that real-time updates are available to everyone,” she said.
Njeri also emphasized the role of the system in enabling a more integrated approach that combines technology, human expertise, and citizen action.
Dr. Victor Indasi, Breathe Cities Lead in Kenya, said the network marks a strategic shift.
“The deployment of the Nairobi City-Owned Air Quality Monitoring Network signals a new chapter in our collective efforts to tackle air pollution. We look forward to the effective use of this network to inform both policy and the public, ushering in a new era of data-driven air quality management for our city,” he said.
Nairobi’s air quality efforts are part of a larger regional push supported by the Clean Air Fund.
Similar projects are underway in other African cities, showing how this approach can be adapted continent-wide. Johannesburg, South Africa, for example, joined Breathe Cities in late 2024.
There, authorities have upgraded monitoring systems, conducted pollution source studies, and engaged communities in awareness campaigns.
In Accra, Ghana, selected for the initiative at COP28 in 2023, efforts focus on cleaner transport, controlling industrial emissions, and preparing for sensor deployments.
Other African cities, including Cairo, Lagos, and Yaoundé, have started pilot programs supported by the Clean Air Fund, combining data collection, policy planning, and community outreach to build a foundation for cleaner air.
Each city in the Breathe Cities network shares a common goal: to reduce air pollution by 30% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.
The broader Breathe Cities initiative is to prevent 55,000 premature deaths and 111,000 cases of childhood asthma across the participating cities.
It also projects a reduction of up to 394 megatonnes of carbon emissions and $147 billion in saved health-related costs.
With Nairobi’s sensors now live and a public portal coming soon, city leaders and residents are better equipped than ever to use data for cleaner air and greater accountability, while drawing on lessons from across the continent.
