Bishop Peter Kimani of the Catholic Diocese of Embu has urged the government to allocate funds for the removal of asbestos roofs in affected institutions, following a directive mandating the removal of asbestos from both private and public buildings within three months.
In August, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, Aden Duale, instructed NEMA to identify buildings nationwide with asbestos roofing and ensure their safe removal and disposal by December 30.
Asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen, as well as lung, larynx, and ovarian cancers.
Bishop Kimani acknowledged that the move was long overdue due to the health risks associated with asbestos but expressed concern that the tight deadline may be unrealistic given the current economic challenges.
Embu catholic Bishop Peter Kimani.
He called on the government to support the replacement of hazardous roofing materials, particularly in schools.
“Most schools lack the funds to carry out this work, and I urge the government to intervene, even if it means seeking donations to remove the roofs before schools reopen in January,” he said.
