Sakaja bans nightclubs in Nairobi residential areas

Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has issued an order banning nightclubs from operating in residential areas.

Sakaja said the move follows complaints from the public over noise pollution from bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and liquor-selling premises.

“From now on, no nightclub licenses will be issued or renewed for premises operating within the residential areas,” Sakaja said.

City Hall said on Friday it has cancelled licences for the establishments in residential areas following an uproar from the public.

It said henceforth, no licences will be issued to nightclubs in those areas save for those in the Central Business District.  

"Playing of music must stop by 10 pm and all the liquor outlets to provide parking space for their clients because we will impound vehicles causing obstruction along roads and footpaths."

His directive came a few weeks after Nairobi County Liquor Licensing Board also ordered 40 nightclubs to be probed for noise pollution.

This was after police officers and officials from the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) arrested 26 club managers and confiscated 30 shisha pots during a raid in Kibra and Dagoretti North constituencies.

In a statement, Mr. Hesbon Agwena, the Director of the Nairobi County liquor licensing board, said his office had received complaints from various residents' associations and the general public about excessive noise and vibration that emanates from licensed liquor joints.

Alai who has been at the forefront of calling out the clubs for being a nuisance in residential areas due to noise pollution lauded the move.

"We are winning this war. We don’t start a war we can’t win. Thank you governor Johnson Sakaja," he said in a statement shortly after acting county secretary Jairus Musumba announced the revocation. 

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