Several nightclubs in residential areas of Nairobi were Sunday night raided by police officers enforcing an order by the Nairobi County government.
The raid came shortly after Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja shared pictures of police officers ready for deployment.
“Last call. No nightclubs in residential areas. Goodnight,” he captioned the photos.
It is unclear yet how many nightclubs were closed during the operation that lasted past midnight on Sunday, November 28.
In a notice on Friday, November 25 Sakaja banned nightclubs from operating in residential areas following numerous complaints from the public on noise emanating from bars, restaurants, nightclubs and liquor-selling premises.
The governor stated that no nightclub licenses will be issued to premises operating in residential areas and added that licenses would only be issued to clubs within the Central Business District (CBD) and specified streets.
The county boss additionally stated that licences already issued to nightclub owners in residential areas were cancelled.
“No nightclub licenses will be issued or renewed for premises operating within residential areas. Those already issued are hereby cancelled and establishments may continue operating as bars and restaurants only,” Sakaja stated.
He added: “Henceforth, nightclub licenses will be issued to premises only within the Central Business District and specified streets in other non-residential areas.”
He underscored that bars and restaurants in the areas described above must stop playing loud music past 10:00 pm.
“Bars and restaurants in residential areas must operate within the specified time and control noise emanating from their premises, specifically, playing of music must stop by 10 pm,” Sakaja stated.
Further, the county chief directed that all liquor-selling premises in the county should provide adequate parking space for its clients and subsequently warned that vehicles causing obstruction along roads and footpaths will be impounded.
“All liquor-selling premises in the county should provide sufficient parking for its clientele. Vehicles causing obstruction along roads and footpaths shall be impounded,” he added.
