I Won't Shut Down Churches- Governor Sakaja
Sakaja disclosed that he would hold talks with the religious leaders to listen to their issues.
Marvin Chege 
Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja, has said that he won't take action against the noisy churches in the city and in residential areas.
Speaking during the official commissioning of the Green Park bus Terminal on Thursday, December 1, Sakaja disclosed that he would hold talks with the religious leaders to listen to their issues.
It is afterwards that Sakaja will come up with rules and regulations that will be used to hold the places of worship accountable.
"I will not close the churches. We want them to spread the gospel of obeying rules and regulations.
Inside the Holy Family Basilica in Nairobi. /FILE
"I will initiate talks with them because we must be reasonable and accommodate each other in the city," he said.
On the matter of banning bars and restaurants in residential areas, Sakaja affirmed that his decision still stands and that those who expressed fear that there would be job losses, as a result, are just creating pity stories.
"I will not go back on the abolition of bars and restaurants from residences. We have closed that chapter. Let us move on.
"Those saying people will lose jobs are seeking sympathy. It is the right thing to do although is unpopular," he added.
His verdict comes amidst huge pressure from social groups and a section of Kenyans who had put him on the spot regarding the noisy churches in residential areas.
The Atheists In Kenya Society (AIKS) commended Sakaja for implementing the ban, though they accused him of only focusing on entertainment joints and not including places of worship which have also been accused of noise pollution in residential areas.
"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.
"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.
Atheists in Kenya Society (AIKS) president, Harrison Mumia. /THE STAR
