NEMA Monitors Air Quality During Nairobi Marathon

The first edition of the Nairobi City Marathon, dubbed, the Uhuru Classic, took place on 8 May 2022 at the corridors of the Nairobi Express way.

 

The marathon was officiated by H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta accompanied by the First Lady H.E Margaret Kenyatta.

 

During the Nairobi City Uhuru Classic marathon, Athletics Kenya undertook real time measurements of air quality of the City. This was done in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

 

The air quality monitoring exercise was led by the Director General, NEMA Mamo B. Mamo, who was accompanied by the Environment and Forestry PS Dr. Chris Kiptoo. The Authority set its mobile air quality monitoring laboratory to measure the quality of air in the city.

 

This was the first marathon in Kenya where air quality was assessed. Athletics Kenya has started embedding the principles of sustainability in its events in line with World Athletics Sustainability Strategy, a 10-year road map unveiled by World Athletics in April 2020. This in line with the Sports for Climate Action Framework, under the United Nations Framework for Climate Change.

 

This initiative aims at supporting and guiding sports actors in achieving global climate change goals.

 

In addition, the Nairobi Expressway is expected to ease traffic congestion thereby reducing vehicular emissions in the city.