Churches, Mosques Biggest Noise Polluters- NEMA
To be specific, this is more than other major sources of noise pollution which include clubs, parties and events, which were ranked at 40 per cent.
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The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has listed religious institutions including churches and mosques as the greatest sources of noise pollution in Kenya.
In a notice by NEMA on Thursday, October 26, religious institutions made up 60 per cent of noise pollution emitted across the country.
To be specific, this is more than other major sources of noise pollution which include clubs, parties and events, which were ranked at 40 per cent.
“The complaints from religious institutions arise from the mounting of speakers outside their premises and playing music the whole day as well as night vigils, prayers, sermons and call for prayers where loudspeakers are used," explained NEMA in part.
A photo of NEMA offices in Isiolo, Kenya. /NEMA KENYA
To avert the noise levels, NEMA called upon religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders to cooperate for responsible noise management.
“NEMA therefore stipulates that the religious leaders, community representatives and other relevant stakeholders to embrace a cooperative and constructive relationship that emphasises the importance of responsible noise management,” NEMA stated.
The authority however noted that the aforementioned institutions are capable of reducing the noise from their establishments while preserving the spiritual and cultural significance of religious practices.
Nonetheless, NEMA reiterated its commitment to sensitizing the public on environmental matters ensuring the health and safety of all Kenyans.
“This will reinforce the significance of collaboration and mutual respect between religious leaders and communities in creating a harmonious living environment,” stated the Authority.
Earlier this year, Nairobi residents raised concerns regarding noise pollution from places of worship including mosques and churches, pressuring Governor Johnson Sakaja to take action.
Entertainment journalist and content creator, Cheptoek Boyo, sent out an appeal on Wednesday, January 25 to the county government to intervene with regards to a mosque in the South C residential area which she claims has been disrupting the peace of residents.
She lamented that the Masjid Marwa mosque, located on the ground floor of an apartment within the residential area has been inconveniencing neighbours with constant prayer calls that have even ruined their sleep.
"As you can hear behind me, that's a mosque, and it will go like that until 8 pm at night. All through the day, that sound.
"You can't even sleep here anymore. I have lived here for four years and the mosque is actually five apartment buildings away from here and the noise keeps on getting louder and louder, and that is why I started this petition," she lamented.
There have also been plans by Sakaja to crack down on noisy clubs and bars posing a threat to the peace of city residents.
On December 2, 2022, Sakaja explained why he spared places of worship from the crackdown on premises responsible for noise pollution in residential areas, but warned that they will be looked at again in the near future.
He further revealed that his government will engage them regarding the concerns raised before banning the night church services, popularly known as "keshas", the same way he did with the nightclubs.
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