Kenya has launched a major One Health research initiative aimed at addressing the growing public health and environmental risks posed by exposure to heavy metals and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly around dumpsites in urban areas.
The project, funded by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), focuses on studying how heavy metals and harmful microbes found in waste disposal sites affect human health, animal health, and the environment. The initiative comes at a time when rapid urbanisation has intensified waste management challenges across several Kenyan counties.
The research is being carried out through a multi-institutional collaboration involving the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and the University of Nairobi (UoN). Key study sites include major dumpsites in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Nakuru counties.
Researchers will adopt a One Health approach, which recognises the interconnectedness of people, animals, and the environment. This approach will involve collecting and analysing samples from humans, animals, and surrounding ecosystems to better understand the pathways through which contaminants and resistant microbes spread.
“This project will be using a One Health approach whereby we will be collecting samples from humans, animals and the environment around the dumping sites,” said Dr Cecilia Mbae, a researcher at KEMRI.
Beyond research, the initiative places strong emphasis on community awareness and protection, particularly for waste pickers and communities living near dumpsites. By increasing understanding of the health risks associated with unmanaged waste, the project seeks to promote safer waste-handling practices and encourage sustainable waste reuse and recycling.
According to Dr Moses Olum, Deputy Institute Director at KALRO, the project will serve as an important platform for public education. “We want people to understand the risks associated with waste so they can manage and mitigate them, utilise waste safely through recirculation, and protect communities around dumpsites,” he said.
The study will also examine how harmful microbes move through the food chain, including transmission from animals that feed at dumpsites to humans through meat consumption. This is particularly important in addressing antimicrobial resistance, which occurs when bacteria and fungi become resistant to medicines used to treat infections.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified antimicrobial resistance as one of the top global public health threats. Globally, AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths in 2019 and contributed to nearly 5 million deaths, underscoring the urgency of coordinated action.
Over the project’s five-year duration, researchers will work closely with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to generate evidence-based data to support improved waste management systems across all 47 counties. The study will also reference standards set by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) to determine acceptable levels of heavy metals in various products.
By combining research, policy support, and community engagement, the One Health initiative aims to strengthen Kenya’s response to environmental health risks while promoting safer, more sustainable waste management practices nationwide.
