Choked by Used Trucks: Kenya’s Growing Air Pollution Crisis Endangers Health and Climate

In Kenya’s bustling economy, progress roars like an engine, yet the air is thick with trouble. The country’s transportation sector, a vital artery of growth, pumps out greenhouse gas emissions at a staggering 7% yearly, fueled by a fleet of aging, polluting heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) that grip the nation’s lungs in a suffocating hold amidst a glaring absence of mandatory roadworthy emission tests.

Shockingly, over half of Africa, including Kenya, relies on fuel dirtier than what Europe tolerated back in 1992. These antiquated trucks, often hand-me-downs from abroad, exhale clouds of black carbon, a menacing climate pollutant with ties to respiratory ailments. To combat this crisis, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) now champions the UK’s Euro 4 standards, advocating for stringent fuel and vehicle regulations.

Emmanuel Imaniranzi, the Transport Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at Rwanda’s Ministry of Infrastructure, spoke passionately of a vision to train 1,000 truck drivers, enhancing fuel efficiency by 10% and curbing the menace of black carbon dioxide. In his view, collaborating with UNEP and local trucking associations, will help to mitigate the impacts of pollution and fortify road networks, with a bold ambition to achieve NetZero status by 2030.

Sheila Agarwal-Khan, UNEP’s Director of Industry and Economy Division, also underscored the imperative for regulatory frameworks, urging countries to enact stringent regulations to combat heavy duty truck emissions.

Markedly, a striking revelation emerged from a 2020 study by the World Health Organization: air pollution levels in Nairobi, Kenya’s bustling capital, soar to more than ten times the safe limit, with transportation emerging as a key culprit. Building on this alarming finding, the recently published 2024 UNEP report sheds further light, indicating that a staggering 97% of used vehicles in Kenya churn out outdated, low-quality diesel, releasing black carbon into the air and exacerbating respiratory ailments such as bronchitis and lung cancer.

Rob de Jong, the Head of UNEP’s Sustainable Mobility Unit, starkly outlined the situation. Speaking during UNEP’s press briefing, De Jong noted that heavy-duty vehicles single-handedly contribute a whopping 44% of on-road emissions across Africa. He also noted that a significant portion of the vehicles were imported primarily from the EU, Japan, and other nations.

“While Kenya deserves commendation for its restriction on vehicle imports to a maximum of eight years, it’s disheartening to note that many other African countries lack similar protective measures.” said De Jong.

De Jong further advocated for diversification of transit vehicles and lowering taxes for alternative means of transportation as means to curb emissions.

Martina Otto, Head of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, warned of the impending climate crisis if decision makers ignored the emission from heavy duty vehicles emphasizing the urgency to translate reports into tangible climate actions.

The bottom line is that environmental experts  and decision makers must realize that words alone do not suffice as deterrents to air pollution. Kenya and its African counterparts must act decisively, enacting stringent regulations, investing in cleaner technologies, and championing sustainable practices. For the well-being of their citizens and the survival of our planet hang precariously in the balance.