Air pollution is a significant global health concern, contributing to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and impacting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Informal settlements in Africa, characterized by proximity to pollution sources, limited ventilation, and reliance on solid fuels, experience particularly high levels of air pollution. Nairobi, with a substantial population in informal settlements like Mukuru, exemplifies this challenge. Despite interventions, air pollution reduction efforts often fall short, partly due to a failure to consider local knowledge and priorities. This study addresses this shortcoming by employing a transdisciplinary, co-creation approach that incorporates local stakeholders' perspectives and creative methods. This approach aims to move beyond traditional research methods, which are often inadequate for capturing the nuanced experiences and perspectives of marginalized communities, by providing diverse avenues for understanding and addressing complex issues like air pollution.

Existing research highlights the substantial health impacts of air pollution, especially in informal settlements. Studies have documented high particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in Mukuru and other similar areas. However, interventions like cleaner cookstove initiatives have shown mixed success, suggesting that a more participatory and culturally sensitive approach is needed. The literature supports the use of inter- and transdisciplinary approaches that incorporate local knowledge. Prior studies in Nairobi have examined air pollution perceptions and attitudes, but this study uniquely centers arts and humanities methods to explore this issue comprehensively, bridging the gap between scientific and community-based understandings.

The research was conducted in Mukuru, Nairobi, involving a collaborative partnership between researchers and residents. A four-day inception workshop established a shared understanding and co-designed four mini-projects focusing on raising awareness, taking action, engaging with industry, and prioritizing policies. Multiple methods were employed across these mini-projects, including: * **Interviews:** Semi-structured interviews with diverse stakeholders explored explanatory models of air pollution. * **Storytelling:** Digital storytelling and children's stories captured personal experiences and perspectives. * **Participatory Mapping:** Community artists collaborated on large-scale maps where residents indicated air pollution sources and solutions. * **Theatre:** Forum and legislative theatre engaged communities and policymakers in interactive discussions and solutions. * **Music:** A song, "Mazingira," by Mukuru Kingz, communicated findings to a wider audience via radio and television. * **Playful Activities:** Interactive boards at a Hood2Hood festival engaged residents in identifying air pollution sources and responsibilities. Data analysis involved thematic analysis of interviews and creative outputs. The study ensured ethical considerations, including informed consent, and appropriate attribution of creative works.

The study revealed a complex and nuanced understanding of air pollution within Mukuru. Multiple sources were identified through various methods, including poor drainage, cooking stoves, waste burning, industrial emissions, and traffic. Interestingly, findings varied across methods. Participatory mapping highlighted industry, drainage, and waste burning as major sources, while children's stories emphasized smoke from cookstoves. Interviews revealed contradictory views, for instance, some residents believed more waste burning was necessary for environmental cleanliness. The playful activity at the Hood2Hood festival showed a majority belief that individuals, rather than governmental bodies, were responsible for pollution reduction. The "Mazingira" song and legislative theatre underscored government inaction and the need for both individual and systemic changes. The study revealed that air pollution is perceived holistically by Mukuru residents, intertwined with sanitation, water access, and broader socioeconomic issues.

This study's findings highlight the limitations of traditional, top-down approaches to air pollution intervention. The co-created transdisciplinary approach effectively captured the complex and interconnected nature of air pollution in Mukuru, uncovering perspectives and solutions that might have been missed using conventional methods. The variation in findings across different methodologies underscores the importance of using multiple approaches to gain a more comprehensive understanding of community perceptions and experiences. The identification of sewage smells as a significant source of pollution, often overlooked in scientific assessments, exemplifies the value of integrating local knowledge. The integration of arts-based methods facilitated engagement with a wide audience, making air pollution more visible and relatable. The study demonstrates how community-led solutions can address both individual behaviors and systemic issues, contributing to the development of sustainable and culturally appropriate interventions.

This research demonstrates the value of a co-created transdisciplinary approach that utilizes arts-based methods to explore the complex realities of air pollution in informal settlements. The study's findings provide valuable insights into community perceptions, identifying diverse sources and highlighting the interconnectedness of air pollution with other socioeconomic and environmental challenges. This research emphasizes the importance of integrating local knowledge and community-led solutions for effective and sustainable interventions. Future research should build upon this transdisciplinary model to address other complex global challenges, promoting meaningful partnerships between researchers and communities.

The study's breadth of methods may have impacted the depth of analysis in some areas, not meeting typical disciplinary standards. Managing expectations of community members regarding achievable outcomes within the project's timeframe was also challenging. Time constraints limited engagement with surrounding industries, which would enrich future research. Although mitigated through digital communication, working across time zones presented some logistical hurdles.