NAIROBI, Kenya – Eighteen years after Kenya banned asbestos, thousands of buildings across the country—including schools, hospitals, and government offices—still bear the hazardous roofing material, raising serious health concerns.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a directive to three government ministries, demanding the removal of asbestos roofs by the end of this month.
The CS, addressing the National Assembly’s Petitions Committee, emphasized the urgency of tackling the issue, citing asbestos roofing as a leading cause of lung cancer and other health complications.
“We can’t compromise on the health of our citizens. It’s currently raining everywhere, and people are drinking water collected from these roofs,” Duale said. “I apologize on behalf of previous regimes, but this government must tackle this issue for the sake of people’s health.”
Despite the 2006 ban, budgetary constraints have delayed the removal of asbestos roofing, with public institutions like the Kenya Railways Corporation, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenyatta University, and Kenya Medical Training College identified among the major culprits.
Churches, barracks, and other government buildings also remain non-compliant. Nairobi leads in the number of affected buildings, according to a mapping exercise by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The CS assured the committee, chaired by Nimrod Mbai, that the government would prioritize action on the matter.
“The biggest problem has been the government itself, but we are going to ensure that we deal with this issue,” he said, pledging to take the matter to Cabinet for expedited resolution.
Asbestos, once commonly used in construction for its durability and fire resistance, has been linked to severe health conditions, including mesothelioma—a rare and aggressive cancer of the chest and abdominal lining—and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary.
Duale acknowledged that previous administrations failed to address the problem but vowed this government would not follow suit.
“We can’t use the budget as an excuse while this issue affects the health of Kenyans,” he stated.
The CS’s push for action is expected to pave the way for safer public spaces, but with the looming deadline, it remains to be seen how effectively the government can enforce compliance in addressing a long-overdue public health hazard.
Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a directive to three government ministries, demanding the removal of asbestos roofs by the end of this month.
The CS, addressing the National Assembly’s Petitions Committee, emphasized the urgency of tackling the issue, citing asbestos roofing as a leading cause of lung cancer and other health complications.
“We can’t compromise on the health of our citizens. It’s currently raining everywhere, and people are drinking water collected from these roofs,” Duale said. “I apologize on behalf of previous regimes, but this government must tackle this issue for the sake of people’s health.”
Despite the 2006 ban, budgetary constraints have delayed the removal of asbestos roofing, with public institutions like the Kenya Railways Corporation, Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenyatta University, and Kenya Medical Training College identified among the major culprits.
Churches, barracks, and other government buildings also remain non-compliant. Nairobi leads in the number of affected buildings, according to a mapping exercise by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).
The CS assured the committee, chaired by Nimrod Mbai, that the government would prioritize action on the matter.
“The biggest problem has been the government itself, but we are going to ensure that we deal with this issue,” he said, pledging to take the matter to Cabinet for expedited resolution.
Asbestos, once commonly used in construction for its durability and fire resistance, has been linked to severe health conditions, including mesothelioma—a rare and aggressive cancer of the chest and abdominal lining—and cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary.
Duale acknowledged that previous administrations failed to address the problem but vowed this government would not follow suit.
“We can’t use the budget as an excuse while this issue affects the health of Kenyans,” he stated.
The CS’s push for action is expected to pave the way for safer public spaces, but with the looming deadline, it remains to be seen how effectively the government can enforce compliance in addressing a long-overdue public health hazard.
