MPs Now Demand Urgent Removal of Asbestos Roofs

Over a year after the government demanded the removal of asbestos roofing nationwide within three months, many buildings across Kenya remain covered with the dangerous material.

With little done so far, Members of the National Assembly are now demanding swift action to enforce the long-overdue order amid growing concerns over public health and safety.

In a report tabled in Parliament, the National Assembly Committee on Public Petitions has directed public institutions to get rid of asbestos roofs by October 2026. 

The exercise will be overseen by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema).

“The committee recommends that all stakeholders remove asbestos roofing from all public institutions within one year of tabling of this report,” reads the report. 

Asbestos was a popular roofing material back in the 1970s due to the fact that it was a multipurpose material as a soundproofing material. 

In the 1980s, studies found that inhaling thin asbestos fibres causes serious respiratory diseases, including lung cancer and a very aggressive cancer called mesothelioma.

The majority of nations, including developed nations such as Germany and the United Kingdom, have today banned the use of asbestos.

RELATED: State Orders Removal of Asbestos Roofs in 90 Days

Kenya stopped allowing asbestos to be brought in, made or used in 2006 but many old buildings like schools and hospitals still have asbestos roofs.

Government records show that 188 schools and other learning institutions have asbestos roofs, amounting to 3,180 tonnes of the hazardous material. 

The private sector has a total of 8,467 tonnes of asbestos. 

On August 28, 2024 the then Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry Aden Duale, gave landlords a 90-day ultimatum to replace asbestos roofs due to public health concerns.

Mr Duale directed Nema to map out facilities with asbestos roofing to ensure their removal to enhance public safety and protect citizens from the hazardous health risks associated with asbestos exposure.

RELATED: 9 Most Dangerous Building Materials

Implementation of this directive has been slow, with MPs now warning that deteriorating asbestos sheets continue to release fibres into the air contaminating soil, water, and endangering people. 

Getting rid of asbestos is expensive. The cost of removing, transporting, and safely disposing of it is a big challenge for many institutions. Experts say these costs could be too much for public offices and small private businesses to handle.

Join 15,000+ pros getting our weekly digest of news and insights.