Kenya launches real-time digital system to curb industrial pollution

Industrial activities, including large-scale agriculture, production and manufacturing, are major sources of emissions that significantly degrade the environment, particularly air quality. 

Air pollution remains a serious environmental and public health challenge across Africa. Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), shows air pollution is responsible for approximately 7 million premature deaths globally each year.

In Kenya, poor air quality is linked to an estimated 19,000 premature deaths annually, underscoring the urgency of stronger monitoring and regulation.

One of the industry players is Abyssinia Group of Industries (AGI), which operates steel manufacturing plants in Kisumu, Awasi, Mariakani, Kitengela and Athi River, as well as regional facilities in Ethiopia and Jinja, Uganda.

John Sambula, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Manager at AGI, explains, the company primarily relies on recycled scrap metal, which is re-melted to produce new steel products.

However, like many industrial processes, steel production carries a risk of environmental emissions.

“During production processes, there is potential for emissions at stack emission points,” Sambula says.

Against this backdrop, the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), in partnership with technology firm United Platform Solutions (UPS), has developed a digital platform designed to monitor industrial pollution across Kenya.

The system, Kenya Online Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (KOCEMS) will provide real-time emissions data, strengthen regulatory enforcement, and promote sustainable industrial development.

Nema Director General, Dr Mamo B. Mamo describes launch as a transformative milestone in Kenya’s environmental governance journey.

“The launch of KOCEMS signals a decisive transition from periodic and self-reported emissions data to real-time, technology-driven environmental oversight,” he says.

He emphasizes, as Kenya advances its industrial growth under Vision 2030, economic development must not come at the expense of public health and environmental integrity.

This initiative is anchored in Regulation 59 of the Environmental Management and Coordination (Air Quality) Regulations, 2024, which require regulated facilities to install a web-based Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS). These systems transmit real-time emissions data to Nema.

The CEMS are essential, technologies that enable industries to monitor, record and report pollutant levels continuously, promoting self-regulation and compliance with environmental laws.

Sambula explains that emissions at AGI are monitored regularly, with the data shared with Nema.

"We conduct periodic monitoring every six months. Certified experts assess the emissions, and a report is then prepared and submitted to Nema," Sambula says.

He also praises the introduction of KOCEMS as a positive development, "It allows us to monitor environmental parameters in real-time. This means that if emissions exceed legal limits, we can immediately identify the issue, investigate the cause and take corrective action."

Previously, emissions monitoring largely relied on periodic assessments.

Dr Mamo explains, reliance on annual or biannual reports created gaps in compliance verification, delayed detection of violations and reduced the regulator’s ability to respond promptly.

It also failed to capture intermittent or accidental high emissions and often reflected only ideal operating conditions during testing.

“Environmental harm can occur within minutes; therefore, regulatory systems must operate at the same speed as industrial processes,” he says.

KOCEMS addresses these gaps by leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Industrial emissions data is transmitted in real time to a central control room at Nema, enabling immediate detection of exceedances and timely corrective action.

“Automated monitoring enhances transparency and integrity in environmental oversight, marking a shift from reactive enforcement to preventive compliance,” Dr Mamo says 

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr Deborah Barasa, praised the system as a major step toward strengthening environmental governance through technology, transparency, and improved oversight.

She notes that industries will benefit from better process monitoring, enabling greater operational efficiency while reducing their environmental footprint.

“As government, we remain committed to strengthening environmental governance systems that safeguard our natural resources while supporting sustainable economic growth,” she says. 

The system will also enable Nema to assess real-time monitoring equipment for air quality, noise, and effluent discharge.

The initiative also contributes to the implementation of the Kenya National Environment Policy and the Kenya Green Economy Strategy and Implementation Plan, both of which promote low-carbon development, sustainable production systems and efficient resources use.

It also contributes to continental efforts under the African Union environmental sustainability agenda aimed at addressing air pollution and protecting public health across Africa.

United Platform Solutions CEO Rohit Khattar, explains that industries act as data capture points. Installed analyzers collect emissions data, which is then transmitted to a central platform.

“These systems process raw data into meaningful formats such as graphs, reports, and dashboards, making it easier to interpret,” he says.

The data is shared in real time with Nema and is also accessible to individual industries, although each facility can only view its own data.

The system is designed with strong security features and flexible data frequency, ranging from 1-15 minutes depending on emission severity.

It monitors air quality, noise, and water parameters, using a simple visual interface; Red indicates levels exceeding permissible limits, while Green indicates compliance.

Khattar explains, “Charts and graphs further help both regulators and industries track performance trends, while predictive analytics enable forecasting of future emissions.”

At Mombasa Cement, Thomas Basweti, in charge of Environment, Health and Safety, and Jitu Joshi, Plant Head, highlight the complexity of industrial processes and the multiple points at which pollution can occur.

They explain that cement production involves stages such as mining, transportation, grinding, calcination and clinker processing.

“During the burning of limestone, coal is used to produce clinker. This releases gases such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds,” Basweti says.

Joshi says, the company has already adopted advanced monitoring technologies 

“Our system includes pre-installed mechanisms for monitoring particulate matter and gas emissions,” Joshi says.

They welcome the system, noting that it aligns with their commitment to environmentally responsible operations.

With the rollout of KOCEMS, Kenya is positioning itself as a leader in technology-driven environmental governance. The system not only strengthens compliance but also fosters a culture of accountability and sustainability within industry.

By enabling real-time monitoring, predictive analysis, and transparent reporting, the system represents a significant step toward balancing industrial growth with environmental protection, and ultimately safeguarding public health.