Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) might be getting a lot quieter. Geoffrey Mosiria, the Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service, has issued a firm appeal to matatu operators.
He is urging them to switch off loud music and stop unnecessary hooting while driving through the city centre.
This move comes after a wave of complaints from local shop owners. Business leaders say the constant noise is making it impossible to work. It has become difficult to speak with customers or make important phone calls.
“This noise pollution has negatively affected businesses, with many shop owners unable to properly engage with customers or make phone calls in peace,” he noted on his Facebook post.
Mosiria urged the operators to keep the music in their vehicles at acceptable volumes while operating within the city centre.
“I am therefore appealing to matatu operators to switch off loud music and avoid unnecessary hooting while operating within the CBD, and to shop owners to keep music at acceptable levels as provided for by law.”
A Legal Battle Against Noise
His appeal to matatu operators comes at a time when a lawyer has petitioned the high court to ban music from matatus plying within Nairobi.
Having lived and worked in Nairobi for six years, Lawyer Samwel Barongo Nyamari claims the noise is more than just a nuisance. He describes it as “psychological torture.”
The petition argues that matatus are often fitted with heavy sound systems that play music throughout the day. Passengers are rarely warned about the volume before they board.
Nyamari believes this denies commuters the right to make an informed choice about the service they are paying for.
Health and Human Rights
The legal challenge highlights several constitutional concerns. It claims the noise violates Article 42, which guarantees the right to a clean and healthy environment. It also cites Article 29 on the freedom and security of the person.
The impact on health is a major part of the argument. Experts and the petitioner suggest that loud, drum-heavy music poses risks to hearing and mental well-being.
Vulnerable groups are the most at risk. The petition notes that children, the elderly, the sick, and people living with autism are
Enforcement and Fines
Officer Mosiria has reminded operators that noise pollution is a serious offence. It violates both the Nairobi City County Noise Pollution Control and Prevention Act and the national Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA).
BY moses sagwe
