For many a decade, asbestos served as a staple (and star) material in construction the world over – practically worshipped for its seemingly-magical resilience and fireproof properties. Today, however, it’s better known as a silent, deadly health hazard, tragically linked to a host of life-threatening diseases. 

As recently reported, the government of Kenya is set to take decisive action to rid its public facilities of this diabolical material, and they plan to start with schools and hospitals.

Colonial Legacy of Asbestos in Kenya

As was the case the world over, asbestos became widely used in Kenya during the mid-20th century. Like many developing nations, Kenya saw asbestos incorporated into public and private infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and government buildings; these materials were often imported, as Kenya lacked its own asbestos production capabilities. Neighboring countries – like South Africa and Zimbabwe, which were major asbestos exporters during this period – supplied much of the material.

During the colonial era, infrastructure projects in Kenya prioritized rapid development to support administrative and settler needs; safety regulations governing asbestos use, however, were minimal or non-existent. Construction workers handling asbestos materials often did so without proper protective equipment or knowledge of the health risks; a lack of precautions that reflected the gargantuan global underestimation – and/or the deliberate dismissal – of the dangers of asbestos at the time.

Many schools and hospitals around the world are often still contaminated with asbestos.

Many of the buildings constructed during this period remain in use today, particularly in public institutions such as schools and hospitals. The aging asbestos in these structures poses a significant health risk, as deteriorating materials can release harmful fibers into the air. These risks were then compounded by a lack of awareness and regulatory oversight in the years following independence, leaving asbestos as a persistent threat among Kenya’s built environment.

Efforts to address this legacy have been frustratingly slow to start, but are now gaining momentum, especially as the government now commits to prioritizing the removal of asbestos from public facilities. Recognizing the health risks posed by these aging structures, Kenya’s removal initiative is not only a critical public health measure, but also a clear acknowledgment of the long-standing impact of past construction practices.

A Race to Replace Dangerous Roofing

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral that has been widely utilized the world over for over 1,000 years. Historically, asbestos was incorporated into a staggering variety of products – roofing materials, wall insulation, tiles, and even fabrics – despite mounting evidence of its health hazards. Asbestos fibers are disastrously insidious; when disturbed, they release tiny fibrils into the air that, once inhaled, can cause fatal diseases, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Kenyan government  issues directive to remove asbestos

Kenya’s Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a directive for the urgent removal of asbestos roofing from government buildings, emphasizing the enormous health risks posed by asbestos exposure, such as its links to a host of respiratory diseases and vicious cancers. Schools and hospitals are at the top of the to-do list, with the government aiming to complete the removal process by December 30 – a tight deadline, but necessarily ambitious for boldly tackling this issue.

Asbestos was banned in Kenya in 2006, but many older buildings still have asbestos materials in use. The legacy of its widespread application continues to endanger occupants, particularly in public institutions in which the sole purpose is to serve the a country’s most vulnerable population – its patients and children.

The Shadows of Exploitation

Kenya’s struggle with asbestos eerily echoes the experiences of other African nations – nations in which asbestos mining and production has also left behind its lethal legacy of devastating health crises and pernicious environmental damage. During the mid-20th century, countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe were major asbestos exporters. 

The industries thrived on exploitative practices, including unsafe working conditions and suppressed health research; workers and nearby communities were subsequently exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos dust, with little regard for their safety or well-being.

South Africa – once the third-largest producer of asbestos – banned its use in 2008. Despite this, it continues to grapple with high rates of mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure; Zimbabwe’s asbestos mining practices were equally troubling, relying on cheap labor and lax safety measures to maximize profit. 

Mapping the Problem

The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has been tasked with creating an inventory of buildings containing asbestos, and ensuring safe removal and disposal procedures; they have also issued updated guidelines for asbestos management, urging county governments to educate their residents and comply with safe handling practices.

Nairobi County has been identified as having a significant concentration of buildings with asbestos roofing, along with other counties such as Kakamega, Bungoma, and Vihiga; these areas are under close scrutiny as the removal efforts ramp up.

Alarmingly, asbestos exposure is not limited to aging roofs. The mineral has also contaminated water supplies and household plumbing in some areas, thus further compounding the health risks. The National Cancer Institute maintains that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, underscoring the importance of Kenya’s removal efforts.

Why the Urgency?

Asbestos-related illnesses often take years to develop, but the health impact can be devastating; conditions like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis are directly linked to exposure, with symptoms typically not making an entrance for decades. Removing asbestos from public institutions is a critical step in preventing long-term health risks for Kenya’s citizens – citizens that may otherwise succumb to the awful ramifications of unknown asbestos exposure years down the track.

Asbestos companies hid the dangers of asbestos exposure from employees and customers.

The urgency is compounded by a history of disgraceful corporate cover-ups. Companies like England’s Turner & Newall, for example, (who had several asbestos mines in South Africa and Zimbabwe) knowingly hid evidence of asbestos dangers for decades, prioritizing profits over lives. Similar stories have emerged the world over, with manufacturers failing to inform workers of the health risks, even as evidence sickeningly mounted in the shadows – ugly, greed-driven negligence that has fueled public health disasters, the consequences of which continue to reverberate to this day.

Duale has underscored the importance of acting swiftly, citing examples from countries in which asbestos bans have been more aggressively enforced; in these nations, strict regulations have significantly reduced asbestos-related diseases, a lead that must surely be followed.

A Safer Future Ahead

The Kenyan government’s initiative is a bold step towards improving public health. With clear timelines, strong leadership, and collaboration between NEMA and local governments, the country is making strides to eliminate this hazardous material from its public spaces.

As Kenya moves ahead, the lessons of countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe serve as cautionary tales. The exploitation of workers, the neglect of community safety, and the long-term environmental contamination are tragedies Kenya is determined to avoid; by addressing any lingering asbestos contamination now, the country has the opportunity to safeguard future generations from its toxic legacy.