•Wanga said the entertainment industry is vital to the socio-economic sector and urged operators to abide by the law.
•They said bars could continue operating as usual but limit their sound levels to the required intensity.
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Visiting Kisumu?
Be sure to take your earplugs unless you love ear-splitting music and don't like a good night's sleep.
More than 10 clubs and restaurants in Kisumu, which had been given notice of closure over noise pollution, now have six months to soundproof their premises.
City manager Abala Wanga and Kisumu bar owners deliberated over the notice issued by the city on excessive noise.
They resolved the affected bars can continue operating but must keep the decibels to the legal limit.
Wanga said the entertainment sector is important to the economy and urged operators to abide by the rules.
“We want bar and restaurant owners to operate in a way to enhance peaceful coexistence between them and residents," he said.
A number of clubs and restaurants have been facing closure over excessive noise following numerous complaints by residents for six months.
On November 25, Wanga issued a notice to 11 bars and restaurants within Milimani, Oginga Odinga Triangle and CBD over nuisance and excessive noise.
It directed them to stop playing music until sound-proofing is installed.
Those who fail to comply within seven days will have their amplifying equipment seized.
A multi-agency team will randomly inspect the bars and restaurants, the notice read.
“You are aware excessive noise is not allowed under Legal Notice 61 and general principles of the Environmental Management and Coordinating Act (Noise and excessive vibration pollution control),” the notice reads.
The premises include Alleyways Lounge (CBD), Willys Lounge-La Vu (Tuffoam Mall), K-City Lounge, Africana, Kalongolongo restaurant, Samba Marina, Mamba hotel (Tom Mboya) and Vunduba (Nyerere Road).
Others are Scottish hotel (Odera Street), Willys Lounge (Opposite Kenya Power) and Black Pearl (Nyamasaria).
Alleyways, Willys Lounge-La Vu Kalongolongo, Black Pearl, and Willys Lounge were found to be notorious and ordered closed.
I am not taking it back. We are on it. If you cannot control your music, I will raid the premises and confiscate those speakers and arrest your DJsCity manager Abala Wanga
The remaining were found to be less offensive and advised to turn down their speakers and soundproof the premises.
“Residents of Kisumu have the right to be protected from loud music and they are legally bound to be protected from public nuisance, especially excessive noise,” he said.
Businesses, too, have a right to operate legally, the city manager said..
“How you live with your neighbour is very important. Respect your neighbour and your business will be respected,” Wanga said.
“I am not taking it back. We are on it. If you cannot control your music, I will raid the premises and confiscate those speakers and arrest your DJs,” Wanga said.
He said they have no problem with bar, club and restaurants owners who have sound proofed and control the music. "It is very simple. Control your music or we close down the premises,” he said.
Wanga said they have also received complaints from residents in estates such as Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko, Milimani and Nyamasaria as well as those from Patel and Ngumbi areas.
Complaints have also been received from Tuffoam Mall, Reinsurance Plaza and those who run hotels within the City’s Central Business District.
The city manager advised investors to establish restaurants with sound-proof material and control music from their premises.
He said the administration of Governor Anyang Nyong’o supports investments; hence, they are not telling business people to close but control the music.
“When you start playing loud music from Thursday to Sunday people cannot sleep. We have received complaints from six months and we have analysed and measured the level of sound,” Wanga said.
He added, “It (music) is excessive noise and nuisance. How do you feel if you have a neighbour who plays loud music the whole night next to your compound? You cannot sleep.”
The city manager said those who are running food joints in Milimani should operate within the confines of rules and regulations failure to which stern action will be taken.
“If you come to Milimani to do a food court then let it be purely a food court and not a club,” he said.
For instance, Ranalo Osewe is a food court and there is no noise. “We are not going to allow live bands where you’re doing a food court,” Wanga said.
Wanga said the number of residents complaining outweighs the 11 restaurants and clubs that have been issued with notice.
He has invited the owner-operators for a meeting to deliberate on the issue. Wanga said, they will agree on the standard and measure of the level of noise that can emanate from their premises.
“If you go to the Imperial Express Hotel, clients who book rooms cannot sleep because of the noise from the nearby club. The same is happening to clients at Acacia hotel,” he said.
(Edited by V. Graham)