Kenya’s Silent Killer: The Unfinished War Against Asbestos

By Amos Ngeno

Eight months after the Kenyan government, under the Ministry of Environment led by Aden Duale, approved the ban on asbestos use, public institutions—including hospitals, schools, ministries, and state departments—continue to defy the order.

As a result, many buildings with asbestos roofing and infrastructure remain in place, posing a silent but significant health threat to Kenyans.

On Monday, March 13, President Ruto issued a fresh directive for the total removal of asbestos roofing materials while addressing the Cabinet.

However, implementing this order will be a daunting task, as government ministries and state departments collectively hold 21,604 tonnes of asbestos materials.

The breakdown is staggering: the Ministry of Treasury has 8,048 tonnes, the Ministry of Lands holds 4,941 tonnes, the Ministry of Interior accounts for 4,669 tonnes, and the Education and Health sectors have 3,181 tonnes combined. Private institutions add to the crisis with an additional 8,467 tonnes, bringing the overall total to a shocking 30,072 tonnes.

The persistence of asbestos in Kenya is deeply concerning. The initial ban, first introduced in 2006, should have significantly reduced asbestos-related risks.

However, failure to enforce the ban has allowed the problem to persist. While the cost of removing asbestos is high, the health risks associated with its exposure far outweigh the financial burden.

Asbestos was widely used in the 1960s and 1970s for its durability and fire resistance, making it a preferred choice for public buildings. Today, however, its deadly consequences can no longer be ignored.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 200,000 people die annually due to workplace asbestos exposure, with two-thirds of these deaths linked to work-related cancers. In Kenya, cancer remains a growing public health crisis, with approximately 40,000 deaths recorded each year, many of which can be traced to asbestos-related illnesses.

Asbestos is not only present in roofing materials but is also found in water piping systems that transport drinking water to various institutions. This further exacerbates the risk, as tiny asbestos fibers can be ingested unknowingly.

In rural areas, where hospitals often rely on rainwater collected from asbestos roofs, the danger is even more pronounced. Shockingly, patients seeking treatment for minor ailments may unknowingly expose themselves to carcinogenic materials simply by drinking water contaminated with asbestos fibers.

The WHO classifies asbestos as a human carcinogen, with particular risks to the lungs, larynx, and ovaries through exposure to chrysotile asbestos. Mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer affecting the thin tissue layers covering organs, is directly linked to asbestos inhalation, especially when the material is disturbed.

In addition, asbestos exposure causes chronic respiratory diseases such as asbestosis (lung fibrosis) and other severe lung conditions.
This time, the government has appointed the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to oversee the safe removal of asbestos. NEMA’s mandate is to ensure that the handling, disposal, and removal of asbestos are conducted safely by trained professionals.

It is critical that those tasked with this process prioritize public health and their own safety over financial incentives.

County governments have also been directed to establish designated asbestos disposal sites. These sites must be located far from residential areas to minimize the risk of exposure to local communities and ensure safe handling procedures.

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Kenya’s leaders must take decisive action to eliminate asbestos from public and private buildings, safeguarding the health of citizens for generations to come. The time for complacency has long passed—now is the moment for real change.