Nairobi County warns of imposters extorting businesses over fake noise pollution fines

Nairobi County government has cautioned residents against imposters posing as county environment officers and defrauding business owners under the guise of enforcing noise pollution regulations.

Nairobi County’s Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria warned that these individuals have been extorting Nairobians, particularly targeting businesses by demanding bribes in exchange for leniency in alleged noise violations.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mosiria lamented that some unsuspecting business owners have fallen prey to these imposters, losing substantial sums, sometimes amounting to hundreds of thousands of shillings.

He explained that these fraudsters conduct unauthorised crackdowns and solicit kickbacks, falsely claiming to represent Nairobi County officials.

“This is the last warning to all those imposters that go out to harass business owners by impersonating Nairobi County Government environment officers,” Mosiria said.

The Chief Officer reminded the public that legitimate county officials always follow due legal procedures in cases of noise pollution breaches.

“We as the County Government of Nairobi, under the leadership of Governor Johnson Sakaja, do not receive bribes. This is a clean government, the cleanest government we have around,” Mosiria said, reiterating that his department’s sole mandate is to enforce noise pollution regulations.

For those who may have been deceived, Mosiria advised filing reports with the nearest police station to initiate investigations.

“Our work is not to frustrate your business and take your money,” he assured business owners, adding that the county intends to collaborate with the public in curbing fraud.

He pointed out that during official operations, county officers are accompanied by members of law enforcement and representatives from agencies such as the Liquor and Licensing Board and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA).

“Our work as the government is just to respond to noise pollution from businesses that breach environmental laws,” he said, adding that his department has prepared and filed charge sheets for individuals legally apprehended for noise violations.

The CEC called on business owners to share any available CCTV footage that could assist in identifying and prosecuting the imposters.

He, however, reminded operators of restaurants, pubs and churches to adhere to environmental regulations, particularly during this period when students are sitting national exams.

The warning comes a week after Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale ordered NEMA to initiate a major crackdown on noise pollution within Nairobi County.

Duale noted that this initiative would eventually expand into a comprehensive national anti-pollution campaign.

He noted that the crackdown will involve a multi-agency task force that will conduct inspections across entertainment venues, construction sites, and factories to enforce environmental regulations.

“The multi-agency operation, led by the NEMA Police Unit, marks the beginning of a nationwide anti-pollution campaign,” Duale said.

He also announced that clubs without soundproofing would be banned from operating in residential neighbourhoods.

“I have directed NEMA’s Nairobi office to launch a major crackdown on pollution, targeting noise from clubs, night construction, improper waste disposal, and air quality,” he said.