Breathing in Kakamega is Injurious to Health.

Air pollution threatens the health of 1.9 million people across 11 districts in Kakamega. The average PM2.5 level is 22.4 µg/m³—4.5× higher than the WHO guideline.

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Brought to you by Amrit Sharma

Overview

Air Pollution in Kakamega

Kakamega faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 1.9 million across 11 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 22.4µg/m³. That's 4.5 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 372 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Kakamega met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.7 years longer.

That's 3.3M years of life stolen from 1.9 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Kakamega. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

  • 1.Shinyalu
    1.8 years lost
  • 2.Lurambi
    1.8 years lost
  • 3.Ikolomani
    1.8 years lost
  • 4.Khwisero
    1.7 years lost
  • 5.Mumias East
    1.7 years lost
  • 6.Butere
    1.7 years lost
  • 7.Navakholo
    1.7 years lost
  • 8.Mumias West
    1.7 years lost
  • 9.Malava
    1.6 years lost
  • 10.Matungu
    1.6 years lost
Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³
0%
0
5-10 µg/m³
0%
0
10-15 µg/m³
0%
0
15-25 µg/m³
100%
1.9M
25-35 µg/m³
0%
0
> 35 µg/m³
0%
0
Districts

All 11 Districts in Kakamega

Complete air quality data for every district in Kakamega, sorted by population.

DistrictPopulationPM2.5 µg/m³Years Lost
Malava285K
21.8
1.6 years
Lurambi233K
23.4
1.8 years
Shinyalu225K
23.8
1.8 years
Matungu214K
21.6
1.6 years
Butere190K
22.1
1.7 years
Mumias East176K
22.3
1.7 years
Navakholo161K
22.0
1.7 years
Ikolomani138K
23.3
1.8 years
Khwisero133K
22.6
1.7 years
Mumias West109K
21.9
1.7 years
Lugari72K
21.0
1.6 years

Showing 11 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.