"Why are you sparing places of worship?" - Atheists Society says after Governor Sakaja banned nightclubs in residential areas

The Atheists In Kenya Society (AIK) has lauded Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja's decision to revoke licenses for nightclubs and wines and spirits joints operating in residential areas, in a bid to curb noise pollution.

A notice issued by the Head of Public service DR. Jairus Musumba on Friday, November 25 indicated that no nightclub licenses would be issued or renewed for establishments outside the central business district (CBD).

"No license shall be issued or renewed for premises operating within a residential area. Those already issued are hereby canceled and the establishments may continue operating as bars and restaurants.

"Henceforth nightclub licenses will be issued to premises only within the CBD and specified streets in other non-residential areas," read the notice by Musumba.

Ban places of worship too

AIK has however faulted Governor Sakaja for focusing only on bars and nightclubs while "privileging places of worship" which are also sources of noise pollution.

"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," a statement signed by AIK President Harrison Mumia reads in part.

Consequently, the atheists society now wants Nairobi County Government to include places of worship in its notice.

"We suspect that Governor Sakaja is privileging religious institutions on this issue," adds the statement.

Stop playing music by 10pm

The notice also indicated directed all bars and restaurants operating within residential areas to stop playing music by 10:00 pm.

"Bars and restaurants in residential areas must operate within the specified time and control noise emanating from their premises. Specifically, playing of music must stop by 10 pm," the notice adds.

Further, all liquor-selling premises in the County have been instructed to provide sufficient parking lots for their clients' failure to which clients' cars shall be impounded.