Kenya's Most Authoritative Political Newspaper

Citizen Weekly

Sunday 17 May 2015

Noise pollution by pubs in Machakos out of hand

Disgruntled businessmen and mechanics at the Machakos Jua Kali zone along Kitui Road in Machakos town have raised the red flag over the alarmingly loud noise pollution emanating from pubs neighbourhood.
They complained about the mushrooming of bars in the area and asked the county government office to take swift action to close the bars, which they said were inconveniencing workers.
Residents in many estates are up in arms over the current trend where wines and spirits pubs are opened right in the middle of designated residential areas, with most playing loud music throughout the night.
Speaking to Weekly Citizen, the furious artisans appealed to the Nema and other concerned authorities to move in and arrest the situation.
 “We urge Nema boss and the county government to intervene since loud noise of music is affecting the life of citizens,” a trader said.
Playing of loud music that can be heard from outside of the property from where it is being played such as a hotel room or motor vehicle is considered noise pollution by many people and societies.
Investigations show that the bars have ignored an earlier directive requiring them not to play excessively loud music that would disturb residents.
According to Sammy Nzioki, sound is measured in decibels and sound beyond 85 decibels is considered potentially dangerous.
“Exposure to noise beyond 85 decibels for 10 hours and above can cause total deafness. We will act tough to protect the members of the public from being harmed by loud music,” Nzioki said
Recently, environment officers enforcing noise pollution laws recently ruined the party for nightclubs in Embu town.
Nema officers arrested six bar operators and their staff for playing loud music.
In a crackdown targeting bars and nightclubs that the residents had complained were creating a disturbance, three bars were found playing loud music.
 Nema officials said they raided the bars between 10pm and 11pm after the bars ignored an earlier directive requiring them not to play excessively loud music that would disturb residents.

No comments:

Post a Comment