Dangerous Levels: Nairobi Recommends Wearing Masks in These Estates Red-flagged by Air Quality Monitors

Nairobi residents have been told to wear masks when entering the CBD, Woodley in Kibra, Kawangware, Juja Road and Mlango Kubwa after county air sensors recorded pollution far above safe levels.

Chief Environment Officer Geoffrey Mosira issued the warning on his X account on Thursday, 4 September, saying the spikes could trigger asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses.

“We want to urge all Kenyans who are going to these areas to mask up because the quality of air in these areas is unfit for humansn,” Mosira said. County teams are already on the ground trying to pinpoint the exact sources of the pollution, he added.

The alert came only weeks after the Swiss group IQAir listed Nairobi as the second most polluted city in the world for August, behind Kinshasa in the DRC.

Daily contributors include heavy traffic, factories and the open burning of waste, according to local experts.

Where to check the numbers:

Residents can track live readings from the 87 air-quality monitors now installed across the capital through the Nairobi County website, Mosira said. “We encourage Nairobi residents to check and keep monitoring air quality levels and take necessary precautions. This way, we can protect ourselves and reduce the risk of many respiratory diseases,” he added.

DID YOU KNOW?

You can check the quality of air we breathe in Nairobi through the official Nairobi County website. So far, we have installed 87 air quality monitoring machines across different parts of the city to help us track and improve the air we breathe. We encourage all… pic.twitter.com/4D2CA42C4T

— Geoffrey Mosiria (@HonMosiria) September 4, 2025

Mosira said the county will also begin serving warning notices to businesses emitting harmful fumes near hospitals and other sensitive areas.

So, if you are heading into the city centre through the fire station, Kibra’s Woodley, Kawangware, Juja Road or Mlango Kubwa, keep a mask handy.