Concerned residents of Nairobi appealing the permissions granted to certain venues to hold firework displays during the below mentioned dates.

REF: PERMISSION TO DISPLAY FIREWORKS ON 24TH AND 25TH OCTOBER 2025 and 1ST - 2ND  NOVEMBER 2025: Ref. X/B/S/I/T/V(36) 

In particular pertaining to the events being held at:

SSDS Temple on Lower Kabete Road (which is a predominantly residential area)
Premier Club Grounds, Forest Road (which is in close proximity to City Park)

We are especially concerned to learn of the ‘open to the public / public can burst’ as advertised in the event announcement posters; as well as the lack of a time limit. This means residents would be subject to a whole two days of firework disturbance with no controls or reprieve. 

SSD Temple: The area is a residential area. The temple borders, on all sides, residential properties. We have in past years, during the Diwali celebrations of the same kind, been subject to this unbearable noise and air pollution (that lingers for days after). As well as debris from the firework shells; falling in to adjacent residential properties, causing serious health risks especially to children, domestic pets and wildlife present in these areas / gardens. The risk of property damage from fires. And heightened security concerns with the loud bangs masking security incidents. There is also the risk of personal injury, trauma and hearing damage: Four-inch caliber fireworks are exceptionally loud, with individual shell explosions capable of reaching or exceeding 150-175 decibels (dB) at close range. This is well above the 85 dB safety threshold for prolonged exposure and can cause hearing damage.  

Premier Grounds: This venue is located in close proximity to the City Park Grounds that is home to a diverse range of animals particularly the Sykes monkeys, hundreds of different birds, insects and reptiles and amphibians. It is only fair that these institutions take their environs in to consideration. Be mindful of the impact such activities have on the environment and inhabitants.

We acknowledge and respect the right for all to celebrate their religious and cultural festivals. However there is a need for enforcement of stricter controls / regulations when those celebrations cause great discomfort and harm to the livelihoods of other citizens. Every citizen has a right to a clean, safe and healthy environment.

Further more we are concerned about the long term effects of fireworks to the environment. The sudden, intense and localised spikes in air pollution leading to extremely high concentrations of pollutants that are far more intense than typical daily emissions and have long lasting negative effects on air quality. We have experienced this in previous years. 

This years limitations to just one day, 20th October 2025, and with a time limit of 4 hours was a huge relief to many residents. However, without proper enforcement, residents around Nairobi and Mombasa were still subjected to hours of disruption and no controls on designated venues and surrounding neighbourhoods. Especially as most of the permitted venues are located in predominantly residential areas. 

We call for:

• Stricter controls to be placed on any festivities being held especially now after the official period of Diwali has ended.
• Considerations to be made to hold such events outside of residential areas and areas close to wildlife habitats.
• more controls, time limits and strict limitations on all ‘free for all’ public participation at such events.
• fines on non compliance and pollution taxes be imposed on all importers and consumers for the coming years. 

We hope that you will give this matter serious consideration as the authorities in charge of ensuring sustainable practices in these areas. Especially in light of the current rising levels of air pollution in the city and loss of green spaces, habitat and livelihoods of wildlife. This is a global crisis which has pushed bans in other cities around the world due to unbearable pollution levels and consequences to public health. Let our city not get there! We have to safeguard our city from the huge public health and environmental impact that such activities have.