In a tweet Sakaja says that they closed night clubs after failing to heed and adhere to the county government’s warning on noise pollution adding that the places of worship will suffer a similar fate.
“Even with the night clubs; we didn’t start by shutting them down. We spoke to them over time and they agreed to comply but some ignored. Then we took action,” he said.
Nairobians from various religions faulted Sakaja for likening places of worship to bars arguing that churches and mosques are more disciplined compared to drunk revelers.
The Nairobians also noted that the church ad mosque are the first place people seek refuge in times of need.
Sakaja and Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi where in a twitter spat over closure of churches and mosques.
Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has weighed in on the decision by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja to avoid closing noisy churches in residential areas.
Ahmednasir said Sakaja was breaking the law by choosing to overlook the churches’ contribution to noise pollution.
Abdullahi has alleged Sakaja is breaking the law by saying he will not enforce the law on noise pollution against churches.
“If we obey the law we will not disagree. Obeying and enforcing the law is not discretionary. No one has power to break, overlook or override the law,” he said.
Sakaja replied by saying churches and mosques will go through the same process the clubs did, as his government talked to the club owners to reduce the noise in residential areas.
“We started with dialogue,” he said.
Earlier, Sakaja had urged the churches and mosques to be considerate with the noise, as discussions are underway on how to handle the situations.
“Even with the night clubs; we didn’t start by shutting them down. We spoke to them over time and they agreed to comply but some ignored. Then we took action,” he said.
In a circular, the county boss revoked licences for all nightclubs and entertainment joints operating within residential areas directing them to only operate in the CBD.
This, he said, was aimed at curbing noise pollution.
“I will not go back on the abolition of bars and restaurants from residences. We have closed that chapter. Let us move on,” Sakaja said.
