Ban Churches- Atheists' To Sakaja After Banning Clubs In Nairobi Estates

It challenged Sakaja for not including places of worship in its list of banned areas...

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Nov 26, 2022 - 12:15
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Ban Churches- Atheists' To Sakaja After Banning Clubs In Nairobi Estates
Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja in his office. /TWITTER.JOHNSON SAKAJA

The Atheists In Kenya Society (AIKS) wants Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja to impose a ban on churches on top of the ban on all nightclubs operating in residential areas.

In a statement on Friday, November 25 signed by AIKS President, Harrison Mumia, the society praised Sakaja's administration for effecting the ban as a means of curbing noise pollution within the city's residential areas following a series of complaints.

However, Mumia challenged Sakaja for not including places of worship in its list of banned areas, accusing him of choosing to only focus on entertainment joints.

Atheists in Kenya Society (AIKS) president, Harrison Mumia. /THE STAR

"The Atheists In Kenya Society would like to applaud the Nairobi County Government for taking steps to curb noise pollution within residential areas in Nairobi. We note that the County government today issued a notice to the effect that the licenses of nightclubs operating within residential areas will not be renewed.

"It is however curious that the Nairobi County Government has not included places of worship in its notice. The notice focuses on bars, restaurants and clubs only," the statement read in part.

AIKS noted that it had received complaints from Nairobi residents regarding noise pollution by churches in the residential areas, a matter which forced the society to write to Sakaja with demands.

The society now wants churches in residential areas to be banned as well, with Mumia blaming Sakaja for giving a pedestal to religious institutions.

"We wrote a letter to the Governor of Nairobi on the 8th of November, 2022 asking him to create an effective complaints department on noise pollution in Nairobi. As a society, we have received numerous complaints about places of worship that are a nuisance to residents of Nairobi due to noise pollution,

"We demand that the Nairobi County Government include places of worship in its notice. We suspect that Governor Sakaja is privileging religious institutions on this issue," Mumia added.

In a statement signed by County Secretary and Head of Public Service, Jairus Musumba, Sakaja cancelled licenses issued to nightclubs operating in those areas as well as stopped renewals of the same.

"Henceforth, nightclub licenses will be issued to premises only within the Central Business District (CBD) and specified streets in other non-residential areas," the statement on Friday, November 25 stated.

The first-time governor added that bars and restaurants in residential areas must operate within the specified time and control noise emanating from the premises. Specifically, the playing of music must stop by 10 pm.

"All liquor-selling premises in the County should provide sufficient parking for clientele. Vehicles causing obstruction along roads and footpaths shall be impounded," added the statement.

The directive was in response to complaints from the public on noise emanating from bars, restaurants, nightclubs and liquor-selling premises.

The complaints took prominence when the Nairobi City County Council Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licencing Board targeted the closure of 43 clubs, among them Loft and Quiver Lounges as well as Memphis Restaurant all located along Thika Road.

However, their fate was spared by Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) chairperson Richard Ngatia who bagged a deal with Nairobi City County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licencing Board to temporarily stop the directive from taking effect.

Quiver Lounge along Thika Road. /MARVIN CHEGE.VIRALTEAKE