Experts Link Noise Pollution to Hearing Loss Cases

Health experts are raising the alarm about a rise in hearing loss cases linked to noise pollution in Kenya. They warn that regular exposure to dangerously loud environments—such as very noisy industrial settings, busy roads, and public service vehicles (PSVs) blasting music—is contributing significantly to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Stakeholders are calling for stronger regulation and public awareness to prevent further damage.
In Nairobi, a 2020 study of public university workshops and laboratories found that continuous noise levels often exceeded 85 dBA, putting students and workers at risk The researchers noted that despite high exposure, very few people used hearing protection. Another earlier study among industrial workers in Nairobi Province found that 86 percent of staff were exposed to noise levels above safe thresholds, and 43.5 percent already showed signs of hearing impairment.
Occupational exposure is not the only concern. The Director of Clinical Services in Kenya has pointed to loud music in PSVs (matatus) as a public health issue, calling for stricter enforcement of noise regulations. He emphasized that hearing loss from such avoidable noise sources is of public health concern and that authorities should monitor and regulate sound pollution more effectively.
Experts also note that the problem is preventable. Chronic exposure to loud sounds can permanently damage sensory cells in the ear, with effects that are largely irreversible. They are urging stronger workplace protections, wider use of hearing protection devices, and more rigorous implementation of Kenya’s environmental noise regulations to curb this growing hearing-health threat.