KOCEMS: NEMA Launches AI-Powered System to Monitor Air, Water and Noise Pollution

NEMA Kenya in partnership with United Platform Solutions (UPS) has launched the Kenya Online Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (KOCEMS) ,a digital and real-time monitoring system. Through the initiative, NEMA will measure and analyze real-time data on air, water and noise pollution throughout the country.

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Air Pollution as a Cause for Many Deaths

In her speech, CS Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa highlighted that air pollution that remains a major public health challenge across the continent contriutes to more than 1.1 million deaths annually. CS Deborah encouraged all stakeholders to work closely with UPS and NEMA to ensure the new system is implemented successfully.

According to World Health Organization, nearly 19,000 deaths in kenya are linked to air pollutions.The introduction of the KOCEMS initiative, therefore, is a major step towards enhancing the protection of the public health and the environment.

KOCEMS: NEMA Launches AI-Powered System to Monitor Air, Water and Noise Pollution image — CS Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Deborah Barasa and other attendees during the launch of KOCEMS

How KOCEMS Will Monitor Emissions in Kenya

The KOCEMS system has AI-enabled analytics and IoT-based emissions sensors installed at Industrial facilities. The latter track emissions data and send it to a centralized environmental monitoring platform. NEMA can now have 24/7 visibility from the industrial facilities across the country.

Kenya’s Commitment to Combat Air Pollution

The KOCEMS initiative is anchored in Kenya’s initiatives and strategies that exist to combat harmful emissions in the country. Regulation 59 of the Environmental Management and Coordination (Air Quality) Regulations, 2024, requires regulated facilities to install a web-based Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) which shall transmit real time emissions data to NEMA.

KOCEMS initiative also aligns with Kenya Vision 2030, Green Economy Strategy and Implementation plan, National Environment Policy while reinforcing the country’s regional and global commitments to promoting environmental sustainability and combating air pollution.