Nairobi, Kenya – More than 26,000 Kenyans die each year from illnesses related to household air pollution, a new study shows. The research, presented by the NIHR CLEAN-Air Africa initiative, links these deaths to the widespread use of polluting cooking fuels like charcoal, firewood, and crop waste in Kenyan homes.

According to the findings, traditional biomass fuels remain common in over 76% of Kenyan households. The study estimates that exposure to smoke from these fuels has cost the country over one million Disability-Adjusted Life Years, as toxins like PM2.5 and carbon monoxide damage respiratory and cardiovascular health. Globally, household pollution causes 3.2 million deaths annually and emits an estimated 20.7 million tons of CO₂.

The report also noted that 97% of schools in Kenya use polluting fuels, endangering learners with toxic emissions. One example highlighted a boarding school using up to 500 tons of wood annually, affecting both education and health. To address the crisis, the NIHR team has launched clean cooking initiatives: community health workers are training families on safe fuels, and pilot programs are testing LPG stoves in schools. These efforts aim to switch more Kenyans to cleaner energy solutions.

Charles Muruka of the NIHR initiative emphasized the need to translate research into action. “We must connect data to policy,” he said, advocating for investments in early warning systems and public health measures. The study’s authors call for expanded clean-cooking programs and policy support, noting that successful local projects in Uasin Gishu and Narok show the benefits of reducing indoor smoke for health and the environment.