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The government has approved a nationwide asbestos removal initiative requiring property owners to bear the cost of eliminating the hazardous material from public and private facilities.
The move, sanctioned by the Cabinet, aims to mitigate serious health risks associated with asbestos exposure and enhance public safety.
A Cabinet memo dispatched on Tuesday emphasized that the initiative will be implemented under the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle, holding property owners responsible for covering removal expenses.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) will oversee the process to ensure safe handling, disposal, and compliance with environmental regulations.
Asbestos, widely used in Kenya’s construction industry in the 1960s and 1970s, remains prevalent in government buildings, hospitals, schools and even water supply systems.
Despite its ban in 2006, the material continues to pose a significant health threat, particularly in older infrastructure.
Classified as a human carcinogen, asbestos exposure has been directly linked to severe illnesses, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen and heart.
According to Legal Notice No.121 of the Environmental Management and Coordination (Waste Management) Regulations, 2006, waste containing asbestos is classified as hazardous and must be disposed of in a manner approved by NEMA.
Individuals involved in asbestos removal, transportation, storage, or disposal without written approval from the authority will face prosecution.
“Asbestos is a hazardous material with extremely fine fibers that can remain suspended in the air for hours. If handled improperly, it poses a significant health risk, leading to chronic illnesses with severe social, economic and emotional consequences,” said Prof. Geoffrey Wahungu, NEMA Director General.
Health experts warn that asbestos becomes particularly dangerous when it deteriorates, is disturbed, or sustains damage, releasing toxic fibers into the air.
Inhalation of these microscopic fibers increases the risk of developing life-threatening respiratory diseases.
However, when left intact and undisturbed, asbestos does not pose an immediate risk.
To ensure the safe removal, handling and transportation of asbestos, the government has issued strict guidelines, which include:
- Environmentally sound disposal of asbestos
- Compliance with Environmental Management and Coordination (Waste Management) Regulations, 2006
- Raising public awareness on asbestos hazards
- Undertaking environmental impact assessments (EIA) before removal
County governments have been directed to establish designated asbestos disposal sites to facilitate safe waste management.
The government anticipates that this initiative will significantly reduce future disease burdens, lower healthcare costs and enhance environmental safety.
The approval follows an earlier directive by Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who, in August last year, issued a three-month deadline for the removal of asbestos roofs from all buildings across the country.
He warned that non-compliance would result in legal action.
Globally, 55 countries, including the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Egypt, have banned the use of asbestos as a roofing material due to its severe health risks.
Kenya followed suit in 2006, yet asbestos remains in widespread use, particularly in water piping systems and roofing structures.
With the government’s latest directive, property owners must now act swiftly to remove and dispose of asbestos safely, ensuring compliance with regulations to protect public health and the environment.
