Deputy President’s spouse, Dr. Joyce Kithure, has called for the total elimination of lead in Kenya, warning that its widespread presence poses a serious threat to public health. Speaking during the 13th International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action at the University of Nairobi’s Chiromo Campus, Dr. Kithure emphasized that no level of lead exposure is safe.
“Lead poisoning remains a silent public health crisis,” she said. “It does not announce itself with pain or fever; it seeps quietly into the bloodstream, impairing young minds, lowering IQ, damaging organs, and stealing futures before they even begin.”
Dr. Kithure, who is also a scientist and senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi, highlighted that lead has infiltrated daily life through children’s toys, paints, road markings, and other household items. She described lead as “a silent predator — invisible, odourless, and relentless,” stressing the need for urgent intervention.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly one in three children globally has blood lead levels exceeding the acceptable limit. Kenyan studies, particularly those conducted by University of Nairobi researchers, have shown alarming lead exposure levels in informal settlements and industrial zones.
Dr. Kithure commended ongoing government efforts to phase out leaded paints and fuel while strengthening compliance enforcement, environmental monitoring, and public education. However, she noted that true progress requires collaboration among all sectors.
“Government action alone is not enough,” she said. “It is the synergy between researchers, policymakers, industries, and communities that will deliver real change.”
Dr. Kithure urged Kenyans to unite in ensuring that “lead-free” becomes a national standard, not just a slogan. “Every life deserves protection. Every community deserves a clean environment,” she affirmed.
