NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenyan government is seeking funding from the World Bank and the European Union (EU) to finance a nationwide programme aimed at removing asbestos roofing materials linked to cancer and other respiratory diseases.
The initiative, which has been approved by Cabinet, will replace ageing asbestos roofs with safer and more environmentally friendly materials.
According to Housing Principal Secretary Charles Hinga, the exercise is a major national undertaking that will require substantial resources and technical expertise.
“As a nation, we have determined that we are going to remove asbestos, but the main issue is that it is very expensive,” Hinga said. “Asbestos can only be removed by experts who know how to do it, and NEMA is leading the process.”
He noted that the government has begun engaging international financiers to raise the funds needed for the operation.
“Removing cancer-linked asbestos roofs requires huge funding and special handling, and we are engaging global partners to support us,” he added.
Toxic Legacy of Asbestos
The Housing Department estimates that over 120,000 housing units across the country still have asbestos roofing — many installed several decades ago.
Despite the ban, many public institutions, schools, hospitals, and old estates still have asbestos roofs, posing a persistent health hazard.
In August, Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa directed the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to identify and clear all asbestos roofs within three months.
“Public and private building owners must comply with the directive to remove asbestos roofing and dispose of it in line with NEMA guidelines,” the ministry said in a statement.
Modernisation and Sustainability Drive
Speaking during a tree-planting exercise at Naivasha Boarding Primary School, PS Hinga said the asbestos removal plan aligns with broader efforts to modernise housing and promote environmental sustainability.
He reaffirmed that the Affordable Housing Programme remains a key government priority, with more than 257,000 housing units currently under construction, creating jobs for over 300,000 Kenyans daily.
The programme also targets 147,000 student accommodation units in universities and colleges, part of an effort to provide safe and decent homes for over seven million Kenyans living in informal settlements.
Climate Action Efforts
During the Naivasha event, Hinga led students and officials in planting 1,000 trees as part of the government’s 15-billion tree campaign aimed at combating climate change by 2032.
He welcomed President William Ruto’s directive to establish 300 tree-growing sites nationwide, managed by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
“We must act urgently against the effects of droughts and floods that are destroying lives and livelihoods,” Hinga said.
Kenya has received regional recognition for its affordable housing and sustainability efforts, though Hinga noted that the initiative has been unfairly politicised by some critics.
“Housing challenges are global — over 1.6 billion people worldwide live in slums,” he said.
