Health experts are warning of growing lead contamination risks across Africa as the continent’s rapid shift toward clean energy fuels a surge in battery use and recycling, often in unsafe conditions.
In Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa, residents of Owino Uhuru say they continue to suffer from lead poisoning years after a lead-acid battery recycling plant was shut down, highlighting the long-term health impact of industrial pollution linked to battery processing.
Faith Muthama, 40, a mother of four, said her health has never recovered.
“Life has never been the same,” she said, wiping away sweat. “I still struggle to do heavy chores as I suffer from breathing difficulties. When I was tested in 2012, I was found with high lead levels in my blood.”
The contamination in Owino Uhuru dates back to 2007, when Kenya Metal Refineries EPZ, a local subsidiary of a Mumbai-based company, operated a lead-acid battery recycling plant in the settlement. Residents allege toxic waste from the facility, which exported processed lead to India, seeped into soil and water, causing widespread illness. More than 20 deaths have been linked to the pollution. The plant was shut down in 2014, but residents say its effects remain.
Lead exposure is associated with neurological damage, reduced cognitive development, and long-term health complications, particularly in children.
A February report by the Centre for Global Development, a Washington and London-based think tank, warned that the rapid expansion of off-grid solar systems and battery storage in Africa is increasing demand for battery recycling, much of which takes place in informal or poorly regulated environments.
The report noted that lead-acid batteries remain widely used in low-income markets because they are cheaper than alternatives such as lithium-ion batteries. However, safe recycling requires costly infrastructure, which is often lacking, leading informal recyclers to use unsafe methods that release lead into air, soil and water.
Experts say similar risks are emerging across Africa and other regions as renewable energy adoption accelerates.
“Off-grid solar could account for a substantial share of batteries entering the recycling stream in Africa,” said Lee Crawford, senior research fellow at the Centre for Global Development. “That's on top of existing demand from vehicles like cars and motorbikes.”
“Safe recycling is expensive and that creates a strong incentive to do it unsafely,” he added, noting that banning lead-acid batteries is unrealistic and the focus must be on making recycling safer.
Across Africa and South Asia, studies suggest that between one-third and half of children have elevated blood lead levels, making it one of the most widespread environmental health threats globally. Experts say weak enforcement of environmental rules in many countries worsens the situation, even where regulations exist.
“This is a silent threat,” Crawford said. “It's often invisible, but it affects health, cognitive development and economic productivity.”
In Owino Uhuru, residents say the impact continues to devastate lives.
Alfred Ogulo, 70, a village elder, said he is still awaiting compensation after years of illness linked to exposure. He described nerve damage, mobility issues, and severe health problems.
At one point, Ogulo said tests revealed extremely high lead levels in his blood.
“I cannot walk without a stick,” he said. “I also suffer from serious chest pain and coughs from the toxic fumes that we breathed in here when the factory was still in operation.”
In 2025, Kenya’s Supreme Court awarded about $12 million in damages to around 3,000 residents after a class-action lawsuit against the smelting company, marking a rare legal victory in industrial pollution cases. However, activists say compensation has been delayed.
Phyllis Omido, who leads the Centre for Justice Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA) in Mombasa and helped residents take legal action, criticised the lack of implementation.
“It is sad that the state has ignored prioritizing the compensation payment as ordered by the court,” she said. “These monies would have alleviated the current suffering these vulnerable residents are going through.”
Residents also expressed frustration over the long wait for justice.
“Is it fair that we are the ones still chasing justice while the company walks away?” said Mejumaa Hassan Nyanje, 60. “Will we all die before justice is served? It feels like we've been abandoned, like our lives and our health don't matter.”