Lawyer Miguna Miguna has thrown his weight behind Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s directive to have nightclubs banned from residential areas following complaints from the public on noise emanating from bars, restaurants, nightclubs and liquor-selling premises.
In a post shared via his official Twitter account, Miguna suggested that nightclubs should operate within the industrial area and the Central Business District (CBD).
He noted that the joints aforementioned should not operate where people were raising families.
“Nairobi residents neither need nor want clubs, bars and brothels in residential areas. We don’t need clubs, bars and brothels near our primary and secondary schools. These “businesses” should operate in the CBD, Industrial Area and other places where people don’t raise families,” he stated.
Nairobi residents neither need nor want clubs, bars and brothels in residential areas. We don’t need clubs, bars and brothels near our primary and secondary schools. These “businesses” should operate in the BCD, Industrial Area and other places where people don’t raise families.
— Dr. Miguna Miguna (@MigunaMiguna) January 3, 2023
Sakaja’s order
Sakaja banned nightclubs from operating in residential areas on November 25, 2022.
At the time, the county head said no nightclub licenses would be issued to premises operating in residential areas and added that licenses would only be issued to clubs within the CBD and specified streets.
“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.
“Henceforth, nightclub licenses will be issued to premises only within the Central Business District and specified streets in other non-residential areas,”
Reactions
The move elicited mixed reactions from notable leaders such as Nairobi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) who asked the county chief to lift the order.
The city’s lawmakers said the order “was not clear and it is affecting all the nightclubs, even those that are compliant,”
While nightclubs used to be based in Nairobi’s Central Business District, most were forced to shut down or reduce their activities as enforcement of rules against drunk driving and business dynamics pushed revellers out of the city.
The growth of the city and the urban sprawl has resulted in massive and often uncontrolled developments in city estates and the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
