Government buildings, religious institutions, schools, and hospitals continue to have asbestos roofing, nearly 18 years after it was banned in the country.
According to Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, he has already contacted three ministries, urging them to enforce the removal of the harmful roofing material, which is known to be a major cause of lung cancer.
Duale made the remarks while appearing before the Petitions Committee of the National Assembly.
He explained that the ministries had until the end of the month to implement the removal of asbestos roofing.
“We cannot compromise on the health of our citizens.
It’s currently raining everywhere, and our people are drinking water from those roofs.
I apologize on behalf of previous administrations, but this government must address this issue for the sake of public health,” Duale said.
Responding to questions from the committee, led by Nimrod Mbai, about the delay in eliminating asbestos since its 2006 ban, Duale acknowledged that the main challenge has been budget constraints for removing the roofing material.
He stated that government offices, military barracks, churches, and hospitals were the primary culprits still using asbestos.
To address the issue, the CS revealed that he plans to take a Cabinet memo to discuss the matter at the highest level, emphasizing that the government can no longer use budget limitations as an excuse when it comes to the health risks posed to Kenyans.
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has already identified buildings across the country that still have asbestos roofs, with Nairobi being the hardest hit.
Some of the notable buildings in Nairobi with asbestos roofing include the Kenya Railways Corporation, Kenyatta University, the Kenya Medical Training College, Kenyatta National Hospital, and Deliverance Church in Umoja.
Asbestos is known to cause serious health issues, including mesothelioma, a rare cancer affecting the membranes surrounding the chest and abdomen, as well as cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovary.
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