Joseph Kamau Kiragu
Student: Maasai Mara University
With general elections around the corner, politicians are rushing to reach out to voters to sell their agendas. Lately, many towns here in Kenya have been witnessing sound pollution and massive traffic tie-up due to roadshows and rigorous campaigns from the politicians eying for elective seats. Although this is permissible, parties have been using vehicles carrying loudspeakers broadcasting at a high volume without following prescribed norms concerning decibel unit restrictions. Since the IEBC has already officially called the start of the campaign period, politicians might use this chance by going beyond the law regarding decibel unit restrictions and conducting political gatherings near sensitive zones such as hospitals and schools.
It’s therefore imperative to avoid election vehicles moving near hospitals and schools. The constant movement of these vehicles is linked with severe noise pollution. The Source of this nuisance mainly is a result of careless use of dhols and loudspeakers from the election vehicles that disrupt the tranquility and peace of the general public. Now, suppose such din created by the use of such loudspeakers causes headaches and disrupts the harmony of healthy people. In that case, you can imagine the predicament of patients battling heart-related diseases, hypertension, and those recovering from surgeries. Noise pollution can also increase patients’ anxiety and disturbs their sleep. Similarly, the constant movement of election vehicles and mounting of various public addresses near schools should not be tolerated. Such rackets can disrupt students’ calmness and concentration; hence should be avoided.
It’s worth noticing that election campaigns typically attract a large crowd. Having a large group near hospitals can have negative consequences such as blocking the hospital entrances, which can, in turn, obstruct essential operations in hospitals like the arrival and departure of emergency workers and vehicles. The best amicable solution for all these is curbing noise pollution around these sensitive zones; campaigners follow the rules regarding noise restrictions and behave calmly and reasonably to woo voters. Election candidates have the right to sell their agenda to the public by all means, including loudspeakers, but playing loud music and shouting near hospitals and schools is not ethically correct. The responsible authorities should check this situation and take action against the violators.
