A meeting between church leaders and officials from the Nairobi County Government yesterday on the issue of noise pollution concluded positively, with clerics agreeing to soundproof their churches as a way of controlling noise levels. This meeting was the first since Geoffrey Mosiria, Nairobi County’s Environment Chief Officer, initiated a crackdown on noise pollution targeting both bars and religious organizations like churches and mosques.
“The meeting was very successful. Rather than conflict, we have chosen to collaborate to make this city peaceful for everyone. Our aim is not to appear as though we are fighting places of worship but to address these complaints together,” Mosiria said.
He added that one of the agreements reached with the clergy concerns garden weddings, which will now require an application from the director of the environment and a fee of Ksh 10,000. “We are in the process of drafting significant legislation to address these issues. We are pleased that the pastors are cooperating, and as we formulate these laws, we will conduct a comprehensive public participation exercise where they can share their input,” Mosiria stated.
However, Bishop Samuel Njiriri, Presiding Bishop of Steward’s Church and Chairman of the Federation of Evangelical & Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya (FEICK), expressed disagreement with the county’s proposal to hold religious crusades only at Uhuru Park, with a fee of about Ksh 50,000. “This amount is unreasonable, especially for smaller churches. You cannot hinder the preaching of the gospel by imposing such heavy fees,” Njiriri said.
While supporting the overall regulations, Njiriri emphasized that churches should have the autonomy to handle their matters, particularly since they deal primarily with spiritual issues. “We are not in the business of making a profit; our mission is to transform lives that are often marginalized,” he explained.
Additional proposals from the county include fees for managing roadshows, with charges of Ksh 50,000 for a mobile truck per day, Ksh 10,000 for a stationary truck, Ksh 30,000 for a minivan, and Ksh 10,000 for a salon car. Holding parties in residential areas will also require a daily fee of Ksh 20,000.
