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This paper reports measurements of black carbon (BC) and total carbon (TC) (TC=BC+organic carbon) in the lower troposphere in Nairobi and the towns of Nanyuki and Meru in Kenya. The rural sites of Nanyuki and Meru are both located on the equator on the northwestern and northeastern slopes of Mount Kenya, respectively. Particles were collected for 24h on glass fibre filters using a dichotomous impactor. The content of TC and BC was analysed using a carbon–hydrogen–nitrogen analyser and a black smoke reflectometer. The mean TC concentration in Nanyuki was found to be two times higher than that of Meru, 14±2 and 7±1μgm⁻³, respectively. The measured BC concentration in Meru (1.4±0.1μgm⁻³) was twice that of Nanyuki (0.72±0.06μgm⁻³). The organic carbon (OC) concentration was estimated from the difference between the measured TC and BC. The obtained mean concentrations were lower …