Dr. Joyce Kithure, spouse of the Deputy President of Kenya, has emphasized the need for a stronger focus on preventing lead exposure. She made this call during the opening of the 14th International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action at the University of Nairobi's Chiromo Campus. Dr. Kithure, a scientist, stressed that efforts to combat lead poisoning must move beyond identifying contamination to preventing exposure before it causes harm.
The national event, held from October 18 to 24, 2026, was themed "From Detection to Prevention" and was hosted by the University of Nairobi's Department of Chemistry in collaboration with national and international partners. The main proceedings took place on Friday, October 23. The event brought together government representatives, regulatory agencies, researchers, industry leaders, civil society organizations, university leadership, and student representatives.
A key milestone of the event was the commissioning of the University of Nairobi's new Exposure Science and Chemometrics Laboratory (ESCL). The laboratory is expected to strengthen Kenya's capacity to analyze lead and other heavy metals, test consumer products for contamination, and support research into environmental exposures. The laboratory was renovated with support from ESTEC Limited and equipped with assistance from Pure Earth, Vital Strategies, and the Lead Exposure Intervention Project.
The Lead Exposure Intervention Project was funded by the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), alongside principal investigators from the University of Washington and the University of Nairobi's Faculty of Health Sciences. The facility will also support postgraduate training and expand the country's scientific capacity to identify and assess sources of lead exposure.
During the event, a national policy brief titled "Moving from Detection to Prevention of Lead-Based Pigments to Mitigate Diverse Sources of Lead Exposure in Kenya" was presented to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry. The brief advocates for supply-chain tracking under Harmonized System Code 3206 and supports the international listing of lead chromate pigments under Annex III of the Rotterdam Convention.
Dr. Kithure called for sustained partnerships, stronger public awareness, and effective enforcement of environmental safety regulations to turn scientific evidence into practical safeguards. She emphasized the need to protect children and promote healthier communities. Pure Earth also formalized its continued collaboration with the university through a donation statement supporting long-term cooperation in analytical equipment, capacity building, and heavy metal mitigation programs.
The event concluded with a call to action for stakeholders to work together to prevent lead poisoning. Dr. Kithure's advocacy for stronger measures to prevent lead exposure has highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to address this public health issue. The International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action aims to raise awareness and promote action to prevent lead poisoning globally.
Key points
- Dr. Joyce Kithure calls for stronger focus on preventing lead exposure to protect public health, especially among children.
- The University of Nairobi's new Exposure Science and Chemometrics Laboratory (ESCL) will strengthen Kenya's capacity to analyze lead and other heavy metals.
- Dr. Kithure advocates for sustained partnerships, stronger public awareness, and effective enforcement of environmental safety regulations.
