Environmental and health experts have raised grave concerns over the mismanagement of medical waste in Nairobi, warning that poor disposal methods are endangering lives and worsening the city’s air pollution.

George Mwaniki, the Country Representative for the World Resources Institute and Head of Air Quality, revealed that Nairobi produces about 1.5 million kilograms of hospital waste each month, 95 percent of which is burnt in open fires or through uncertified incinerators.

“This is a serious health crisis in the making,” Mwaniki said. “The waste is often burnt in crude setups that resemble house chimneys, releasing toxic substances like dioxins and furans into the air both of which are known to cause cancer.”

He noted that, according to Kenyan regulations, hospital waste should be incinerated, but most facilities fail to meet certification standards.

Shockingly, Nairobi only has one certified incinerator capable of managing just 5,000 kilograms of waste per month, leaving the vast majority of it to be poorly handled.

Mwaniki added that incineration is becoming outdated globally and must be replaced with safer, cleaner alternatives. “We are recommending non-thermal technologies like autoclaving and microwaving.

These options deactivate pathogens without polluting the atmosphere and allow for recycling or safe disposal afterward,” he said.

He noted that Nairobi is in the early stages of drafting a hospital waste management policy, with discussions underway to explore private-sector partnerships for waste management while the county focuses on regulation.

James Mwita, Nairobi County’s Head of Medical Waste Management, echoed Mwaniki’s concerns. He explained that many facilities use single-chamber incinerators that don’t reach the minimum required temperatures of 800 to 1200 degrees Celsius.

“Without these standards, toxic emissions are inevitable. These incinerators lack proper air cleaning systems and violate international standards, including the Stockholm Convention,” Mwita said.

He warned that poor incineration releases up to 13 cancer-causing pollutants, contributing to the city’s rising cancer rates. Mwita advocates for a move away from thermal-based incineration, emphasizing the benefits of alternatives like autoclaves and microwave technologies that destroy pathogens safely and sustainably.

However, he acknowledged that hospitals are often underfunded and may lack the resources to adopt newer methods. “It is ultimately the government’s responsibility to guarantee public safety through proper waste disposal, but given financial limitations, we need the involvement of development partners to fill the gap,” he said.

Both experts agree that unless immediate reforms are implemented, Nairobi’s unchecked medical waste could trigger a full-blown public health disaster.