African Governments Convene in Nairobi to Accelerate Action on Lead Paint Regulations

Press release

January 28, 2026 (Nairobi, Kenya) — Government representatives from 25 African countries gathered today in Nairobi for a groundbreaking two-day Regional Lead Paint Regulation Capacity Building Workshop. The workshop, co-organized by Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP) and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aims to catalyze government commitments to adopt and strengthen lead paint regulations across Africa.

Lead poisoning remains one of the most significant sources of preventable childhood lead exposure globally, affecting an estimated 815 million children worldwide – approximately one in three. Lead exposure also causes more than 1.5 million cardiovascular disease deaths globally each year, with over 90 percent occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Despite growing awareness, significant regulatory gaps persist across Africa, making this workshop a critical opportunity to accelerate regional action.

The workshop brings together senior decision-makers from Ministries of Environment, Health, and Standards Bureaus, along with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), regional organizations including the East African Community (EAC) and African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), civil society organizations, and the paint industry. UNEP, collaborating on the workshop through its Chemicals and Health Branch, brings its expertise as a leader of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint.

Over the next two days, participants will engage in technical capacity building sessions, share country experiences, develop national action plans, and establish sustained regional cooperation frameworks.

"This workshop represents a pivotal moment for lead paint regulation in Africa," said Dr. Clare Donaldson, LEEP's Executive Director. "By bringing together governments from across the continent, we're creating the momentum needed to protect millions of children from preventable lead exposure. LEEP is committed to providing long-term technical support to help countries develop and implement effective regulations."

Key Workshop Objectives:

• Catalyze new government commitments to adopt or strengthen lead paint regulations.

• Build technical capacity on regulatory approaches and enforcement mechanisms.

• Strengthen regional cooperation through peer learning and knowledge exchange.

• Establish accountability mechanisms for tracking country progress.

• Facilitate bilateral technical assistance planning between governments and implementing partners.

Following the Nairobi workshop, a parallel workshop for Francophone African countries will take place in Lomé, Togo, on February 11-12, 2026, hosted by Togo's Ministry of Environment. Together, these workshops aim to provide comprehensive coverage and support to governments across the African continent.

For more information about the workshop, please contact LEEP at contact@leadelimination.org.

About LEEP

LEEP's mission is to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. LEEP works globally to remove lead from paint and other consumer products by conducting studies to identify high-lead products, supporting governments to introduce and enforce lead regulations, and assisting industry to transition to lead-free alternatives.