This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
On November 26, 2019, the Kenyan government took a crucial step towards reducing environmental pollution by introducing new rules that will see locally assembled trucks and buses produce lower emissions.
The new rules, contained in the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KS 1515: 2019), will see the country adopt Euro 4 emissions levels, which are stricter than the more lenient measures that have been in place since 2000.
The new regulations have more comprehensive limits on the emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, which will help reduce air pollution levels, especially in city centres.
According to the World Health Organisation, the global transport sector is responsible for a large proportion of urban air pollution, which increases the risk for cardiovascular and respiratory disease, cancers, and adverse birth outcomes.
While enforcement may come at a cost to car assemblers and their customers, the public health benefits of cleaner air cannot be overstated.
